The Student Council Elections 2022 are just around the corner. This year, they will take place 16-20 May. For those studying at the Faculty of Humanities, there are 4 parties to choose from: Lijst TOF, De Vrije Student, Activistenpartij UVA and 020. On this final stretch to the elections, we have posed them some questions to give you a better glimpse into their political agendas.
What are the main goal/goals that you wish to achieve while being a part of the student council?
Yourie Bras: I would like to see the UvA finally take responsibility for the big issues of our time (sustainability, polarization, digitalization, etc.) instead of standing on the sidelines. This would mean offering online lectures and choosing a sustainable bank. Not words but deeds!
What steps have you been taking to convince students to vote for your party?
We have been very honest with the students. For example, our CSR party leader Tuncay Yazar believes that most elected students are paid too much for the work that they (claim to) do and therefore advocates a reduction in the wages for elected student representatives. Although this affects his own wallet negatively, he knows that the interests of the students outweigh his personal interests. Students see that we really care about them and know that they will not become a victim of symbolic politics when voting for De Vrije Student/The Free Student.
What are the main goal/goals that you wish to achieve while being a part of the student council?
We operate in 4 councils and of course, plan to expand that. The faculties that these councils represent have different problems and therefore need different solutions. That being said, whatever council we go into we work to bring about pragmatic change regarding a few of our core pillars: Mental Health, Diversity and Inclusion, and Quality of Education. We have predicted what we’d like to do this year in the council, which is to focus on Mental Health and Jobs & Internships. However, in the end, our output is based on the students’ needs, not our preliminary assumptions.
What steps have you been taking to convince students to vote for your party?
During the ramp-up to the elections, the other parties are very happy to make promises about what they will achieve if they get voted in. We do that too. But, we go a step further. We showcase the progress we have made on our promises. We have been posting about the policies that we have worked on in council to show potential voters that we don’t disappear after elections. We hope this, more than any other populist gimmicks, shows the voters why 020 is truly different.
What are the main goal/goals that you wish to achieve while being a part of the student council?
Lijst TOF referred to their own resources for this question.
What steps have you been taking to convince students to vote for your party?
We would like to achieve an equal and strong dialogue between students and the faculty board where this year our focus is on a diverse, inclusive and safe Faculty of Humanities.
What are the main goal/goals that you wish to achieve while being a part of the student council?
The main goals we would like to achieve would be organising a truly democratic, transparent, participatory faculty in which students and teachers, who use the faculty, actually have control of the faculty.
What steps have you been taking to convince students to vote for your party?
We try to root ourselves in the activist movement and will be convincing students physically with conversations and flyers and with our messaging over social media. We think our standpoints will convince students to see that there is a choice to be made and they can change the university.
Happy voting!
Photo by Chiara Goldenstern