– If there is to be a well-functioning student democracy, students must actually stand for election, says student leader at Østfold University College (HiØ), Sarah Naomi Lunner. Every year, new candidates are elected to the student parliament. But this year, interest has been low among the students at the college. If they do not get enough candidates, it could mean the end of the sponsor week, and the students lose the opportunity to influence the college and the association. The student leader believes there are several reasons why students are reluctant to take responsibility. – Many people are having a challenging time after the pandemic, and probably feel that there is a lot going on both mentally and physically. In addition, many choose to prioritize work because the finances are not sufficient. A lot is at stake The university in Østfold consists of around 8,000 students. But the students themselves believe that the information has been too poor. – I had barely heard about it. In order to stand for election, I need to get information about how much work it requires, says kindergarten student Silje Piiksi. Kindergarten students Silje Piiksi, Nathalie Nybråten and Vegard Chruicshanh believe there is a lack of information about the student council. Photo: Amalie Fagerhaug EvjeN / news Østfold University College needs a total of 24 candidates for the student councils. Much is at stake if the students do not stand for election next week: Parliament cannot make a decision. This may lead to there not being a sponsor week in 2023. Students will not be elected to boards and committees. This means that the students lose the opportunity to influence the university and the community. The representative for the students will fall. Fellow student Vegard Chruicshanh was not aware of the consequences if there is not a student council. – I didn’t know that the godmother can smoke. It would have been very sad. The guardianship is an important security for first-time students. This year’s student council at Halden University College. No one has chosen to run for next year’s election. Photo: Amalie Fagerhaug Evjen / news Problematic in large parts of the country Both Oslo Met and the University of Oslo (UiO) are experiencing a similar problem. Often, it is because of the hair hanging down that they get to fill the places. There is also low interest at Nord University. They do not have candidates for leader or deputy leader of UKA, or deputy leader of Fadderperioden in Bodø. Leader of the Student Organization Nord, Chanice Sørlie Johansen, believes it is difficult to get students to be willing to work for free. Photo: Nord University – It seems that after the pandemic it has become more difficult for people to get involved. We have fewer participants than before, and it is difficult to get people involved in things. Previous events that have been sold out in the past may be half full today. But at the University of Bergen (UiB), student volunteering is up and running again after the pandemic. The student leader believes the key is to be visible. – This year there has been wild recruitment. In Bergen, we have an open student body, and a very active campus with a good culture. People are good at spreading the word, that is very important, says leader of the student parliament at UiB, Aksel Haukom. If no one stands for election, the opportunity for students to influence, give input and make changes at the college disappears. Photo: Amalie Fagerhaug Evjen / news – Democracy is threatened Low interest at Østfold University College worries the school management. Principal Lars-Petter Jelsness-Jørgensen would like to see more people wanting to be a voice for the students. – We have probably been too bad at promoting information. Some posters may be a little old-fashioned, so we take seriously that many people feel that information is missing. But we are completely dependent on the students to develop the quality of our education. Rector Lars-Petter Jelsness-Jørgensen at Østfold University College believes it is a low threshold to get involved at the university. Photo: Amalie Fagerhaug Evjen / news Leader of the ombudsman for children and young people in Viken, Bodil Jenssen Houg, believes that democracy has never been more threatened than now. Today, she sees an effect of many young people only speaking in statements – that many only pass the ball on, and don’t want to mean so much. – Especially during the pandemic, dialogue has been in short supply for young people. When you work with student politics, you have to think about something other than yourself. It is a good exercise to be in a student council, both for oneself and to strengthen democracy, she says. Hi! Do you have opinions on the matter, or know of someone else I should write about? Feel free to send me an email!
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Few students will stand for election at colleges and universities – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
