From the 16th until the 2oth of May the UvA holds elections!
The Law Student Council (Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid, FdR) represents the department of Law and PPLE (Politics, Psychology, Law, Economics). The Council of the Faculty is distributed as follows: 12 seats divided into 8 Law students and 4 PPLE ones. Let’s delve into the candidates from each party. 4 different parties: Inter, 020, De Vrije Student, OpRecht. Four different students: Sam, Chiara, Robin and Janne. The 2022 faculty student elections are waiting for us to hop on! Are you joining
How would you describe your party in five words?
Sustainability, Qualitative education, democracy, transparency, student welfare.
Last year the voter turnout at the university elections of the Central Student Council was pretty low (11.2%). Why should someone vote in the faculty elections?
Advertising resources uva, students do not connect with student politics, if they vote, their voice will be heard. They may not realize it easily but your values and opinions can be represented. So, elections are your opportunity. Casting a vote is very important.
What do you want to change mostly in our university community?
accessibility for disabled students is the first thing that comes to my mind. Very small things can change the environment of these people at the university. Raising awareness is the most important part!
Your policy agenda is big and detailed. If you had to talk about one topic on your agenda, what would it be?
International orientation is our first priority. Our party was founded by international students. We want to present diversity and inclusion at their highest. To be an open hug for all students. When they come to a foreign country to help them adapt to the new conditions.
How would you describe your party in five words?
Pragmatic policies for progressive ideals.
Last year the voter turnout at the university elections of the Central Student Council was pretty low (11.2%). Why should someone vote in the faculty elections?
There are changes in our student community, small steps, but they exist. We need patience and together we will see the light at the end of the tunnel, come and vote in the upcoming elections.
What do you want to change mostly in our university community?
A university should be a place of inclusivity for everyone. This means that inequality must be accounted for and mediated. For example, this is not the current reality for every person who menstruates. Some struggle with affording the cost of menstrual products, and others do not feel comfortable asking their peers for help when surprised by their period. In general, menstruation is not effortless.
Your policy agenda is big and detailed. If you had to talk about one topic on your agenda, what would it be?
There is blind grading at the university but it is not standardized across all faculties and programs. Blind grading can be implemented on Canvas with no financial cost and barely any effort. This is relevant to any student as studies have found that biases, including doing poorly on a previous assignment, can lower your grade. To strive for quality education entails fair grading and it is unjust that some students are often graded less fairly than others.
How would you describe your party in five words?
Freedom, Rationalism, Pragmatism, Honesty, No-feel-good-policy.
Last year the voter turnout at the university elections of the Central Student Council was pretty low (11.2%). Why should someone vote in the faculty elections?
Voting in the upcoming elections will constitute a great opportunity to participate in constructing together our student life.
What do you want to change mostly in our university community?
University is the space where students need to enrich their experiences and knowledge through extracurricular and additional activities throughout their studies. That is why they need time. So, flexibility would work towards this direction.
Your policy agenda is big and detailed. If you had to talk about one topic on your agenda, what would it be?
Introducing more flexibility, providing more choice for the student where and how they want to follow their education through means of keeping lectures online post-lecture, no mandatory attendance. Allowing students to follow their education whenever and wherever.
How would you describe your party in five words?
quality, transparency, open-mindedness, engagement, and flexibility over bureaucracy.
Last year the voter turnout at the university elections of the Central Student Council was pretty low (11.2%). Why should someone vote in the faculty elections?
Students Councils DO have the power to change things that students aren’t satisfied with. Urging the board to facilitate the third chance for exams that couldn’t be attended due to covid reasons, is just one of the few examples of that. However, dependent on which party gets into the council, different topics will be prioritized.
What do you want to change mostly in our university community?
The first thing to improve in this regard, I think, is the communication skills of the university. More often than not, people have to find out ‘by accident’ or via a friend that certain accommodations exist (for example, getting help with your thesis from a librarian, going abroad for 2 months to do research, etc.). The UvA could be much more ‘up front’ about this. If almost everything is possible, inform your students about it properly!
Your policy agenda is big and detailed. If you had to talk about one topic on your agenda, what would it be?
Against ‘verschoolsing.’ We are a big advocate against mandatory attendance in tutorial groups, fatal thesis deadlines, and unnecessary obligated homework assignments. Until these things are addressed, students will be put under unnecessary pressure.
Photo by Catherine Vu.