On Tuesday 20 May, the digital polling stations will reopen and students will be able to cast their votes. Like last year, as many as four parties – and a number of separate candidates – have come forward. Who are these student parties and what are they fighting for?
Students can vote until 26 May for several councils within the university: the Programme Committees (OLC), the Faculty Student Councils (FSR) and the University Student Council (USC). The latter is the central employee participation body for students and consists of 14 seats, for which parties compete each year. This year, the parties V.O.S. (Verenigd Onder Studentenbelang), Student Union AKKU, Green+ and ISEC (Inclusion and Equity Commission) are competing for a spot on the council. As every year, a number of single candidates have also come forward, seeking to enter the USC in a personal capacity.
Only students know what students really want
Elected students keep an eye on university policies during meetings with the Executive Board and the Works Council – which represents the interests of employees – and involve the student perspective. Informally, there may be more to be gained than during these formal meetings. This is because topics, on which the USC actually has the right of consent, are scarce: the bulk of the documents are ‘for discussion’ or ‘for advice’. Behind the scenes, however, the elected councillors hold countless discussions with policy staff, indirectly conveying students’ interests to the university.
The USC deals with a variety of issues related to the campus. From flexible studying to free menstrual products, and from the policy on animal testing to a code of conduct for students: these are all topics that are high on the USC’s agenda. Although the student voice sometimes seems united – we all want cheap food and a sustainable campus – there are also plenty of differences to be found between the four parties.
V.O.S. (Verenigd Onder Studentenbelang)
As a relatively new party, V.O.S. is a ‘cooperative’, consisting of five student umbrellas representing a wide mix of cultural, religious, sporting and student interests. The party took a stab at securing these interests and successfully: it won an absolute majority in the USC last year with eight seats. It remains to be seen whether V.O.S. can match its monster victory of last year.
The active student is the cornerstone of V.O.S. List leader Lóa Driessen (International Business Communication), herself chairman of study association Babylon, argues that everyone should be given time and space to develop themselves outside their studies. Through higher compensation for board months and cheap sports, V.O.S. hopes to achieve this. Even during financially drastic times: ‘We want active student life to be affected as little as possible by the cuts.’
Besides the active student, V.O.S. is also there for ‘the average student’, Driessen stresses: ‘You have people who do five board years in a row, but you also have people who are just “members”.’ The party hopes to win over students who are not active by, for example, realising ‘inclusive eating policies’. ‘Think about offering options for vegetarians, but meat options should also remain.’
Studentenvakbond AKKU
In a political landscape full of relatively young parties, Student Union AKKU stands out as an experienced force. The party is, as it were, an extension of its own union, as number one on the list, Noortje Smeenk (Political Science), emphasises: ‘In essence, it comes down to us standing up for the interests of students from a very broad perspective.’
From current events, a number of issues are important for AKKU during this campaign, such as the budget cuts. Smeenk: ‘We want the university to really actively oppose these cuts.’ The pressured right to protest on campus and the RU’s ties with Israeli institutions are also focus points for AKKU. ‘These issues touch on the ideals that we have long been committed to. It is all connected.’
A just, democratic university, at the centre of society, should be the university’s starting point, AKKU said. As part of the National Union of Students, the party links national issues to issues at the RU: ‘We are also nationally active and through those connections and knowledge we get from that, we can respond powerfully to developments on our own campus.’
Green+
The Green+ party participated in the 2023 elections for the first time, as an offshoot of the Vegan Student Association. Its core values are based around sustainability, animal ethics, inclusiveness and social safety. In doing so, the party also hopes to secure good education for future generations through ambitious climate plans, such as a completely fossil-free campus in five years.
Radboud University tries to profile itself as a sustainable university with slogans like ‘You Have a Part to Play’. According to list leader Lize van der Gulden (Artificial Intelligence), there is a lot of room for improvement at Radboud University when it comes to sustainability: ‘We see a big contrast between the way the university presents itself to the outside world and their actual actions. For example, they still collaborate with polluting companies, a lot of animal products are still offered in canteens and the buildings on campus are not very sustainable either.’
Van der Gulden stresses that Green+, however, should not be seen as a single-issue party. ‘The “+” is there for a reason. We are not just for more greenery on campus, but we are also committed to, for example, maintaining the right to demonstrate and education-related issues.
ISEC (Inclusion and Equity Commission)
After losing its only seat in the USC last year, ISEC has not chosen to lay down the hatchet. Within a university with one of the lowest numbers of international students, the party hopes to make the RU a more inclusive place.
According to number one on the list Omar Qatarge (Artificial Intelligence), himself with an international background, the university should ‘talk the talk and walk the walk’ by making the campus a truly ‘global’ one. The creation of a central International Office should be a first step in that direction, according to Qatarge: ‘We are tired of international students feeling like they are on a bureaucratic scavenger hunt at the university.’
ISEC hopes to convince more voters than just international students: ‘We focus on inclusivity and not just international students. Issues like social safety and student welfare are points we also focus on.’ The Radboud campus as an open space is leading in this. Qatarge: ‘We want students’ voices to be heard on the ground. We are instrumental in that.’
De keuze is reuze?
In the face of historical budget cuts, all parties are trying to make the best of it. While they all support the idea of an open and inclusive atmosphere at a university where everyone should feel at home, each party has a different focus. From fossil-free university, to democratic campus and from a ‘global campus’ to the active student: at least the student has plenty to choose from.
Curious who can represent you? You can vote via this link until 26 May. The results will be announced on Wednesday 28 May at 16:00 in the Cultuurcafé.
This is a translation of a Dutch article, for the Dutch version click here.