After ten years, the Groningen Student Union (GSb) will again participate in university elections next Monday. The union wants to strengthen the voice of students. “The university simply needs to be more democratic.”
According to the GSb, students and staff have less and less say in the university. For example, according to them, the new protest rules that have been introduced are a major problem. “The GSb wants to re-establish a large network in the faculties so that students have a stronger voice,” says Ken Hesselink, chairman of the Groningen Student Union. “Many university parties are too isolated from each other and we are going to change that.”
The union has candidates for the faculties of law, social sciences and arts. The union hopes to expand in the coming years, but this is the first step. The goal is far-reaching democratization of the university. “The university simply needs to be more democratic,” says Hesselink. “It is currently managed as a business.”
The GSb candidates are very enthusiastic and want to work on improving education at the various faculties. “We are busy talking to students,” says election candidate Karlijn Bakker. “We want to contribute to an inclusive, diverse and high-quality educational environment.”
Ten years ago, the GSb was the largest party at both Hanze University of Applied Sciences and the University of Groningen. The union was also represented in all faculty councils. However, after an argument between the factions and the board, there was a split, after which the GSb started to focus more on trade union tasks. Fractions continued under different names such as Lijst Sterk, the current largest party in the Hanseatic League.
(Source: submitted message)
