Rotskudd: A warm welcome to NMBU?

A “rotskudd” is an opinion piece written by a member of staff at Tuntreet. The opinion expressed in this piece are the author’s pwn and do not necessarily reflect Tuntreet’s perspective.

Writer: Simen Walbækken Tangen

Translator: Julie Hauge Blindheim

Photographer: Viktor Talgø Syvertsen

This year’s Buddy Week got lucky with the weather, and the atmosphere has filled me with nostalgia. It’s almost making you wish you were a new student again! Things have changed since I first started at NMBU in 2018. A pretty rough pandemic has hindered many social meetings, and it’s possible that many of us have forgotten about how things used to be. Yes, I’m sorry that this is going to be a grumpy nostalgic text about how great the past was, but more than half the student mass at NMBU don’t know how it used to be before the pandemic hit.

The grill party at Pentagon and Tour de Kringla are for many the first meeting with a lively campus full of activity. The heads of the most important positions at NMBU show up and serve the new students barbequed goods. The grill party exhibits that this is a place where anyone can talk to those in charge. Sadly, the rector decided to pass on the invite this year.

At the matriculation, I was surprised at the lack of formality the proceedings were this year. The red carpet and the stairs put in place for the rose parade to reach the podium were gone. Because this year, there were no art prints, roses, or handshakes from the rector and the dean who would wish you welcome as an academic citizen at NMBU. This gesture has decreased the distance and shown that the students could converse with them, despite them arriving at the matriculation in a ceremonious procession, wearing robes. You would receive the art print and rose if you went to SIT, who were in the crowd dressed in red t-shirts. Last year, Curt Rice said that it was wonderful to be able to greet the new students in person again despite some restrictions, so why couldn’t he shake hands with the new students this year? How much will the distance between the NMBU administration and the students increase when they leave behind this good tradition?

Matriculation Ceremony Autumn 2019. Photo: Hanna Bruun Tørnby.

Compared to previous years, there were also three things missing. No food was served. There was plenty of cake, but proper meal. My impression was that there were fewer students present, this might be the reason why. No one spotted Ola Borten Moe or any deputy ministers, but NMBU doesn’t maintain relations with politicians either way.

There were fewer cultural parts too. This year, the cultural parts featured Åsblæsten, Pikekoret IVAR, and a procession orchestra. The music was nice, and they made sure that the culture of Ås was displayed. Nevertheless, in previous years, nationally known acts have also performed. When I started, No.4 performed. This year, NMBU had booked Odd Nordstoga for the 31st of August. Not for the matriculation, as you might get from the differing dates, but for a staff party which only the employees had been made aware off through email. I don’t know much about NMBU’s budget planning, but it doesn’t require too much from your imagination for you to understand that this is the same expense which in prior years has been spent on the matriculation ceremony. Why should suddenly a concert be reserved for employees? When first hiring an artist to perform, it’s possible to make it an open event for all of NMBU, the great lawn is large enough. I understand that they want to establish unity in the workplace, but it shouldn’t stand in the way of student inclusion.

I know that the matriculation ceremony would be very long if everyone were to receive a handshake from the rector. There probably used to be a lot of food waste. What is said in the speeches might be more important than the size of the show. It’s easy to understand why one would reprioritize, but this is not the way to go! The entire matriculation ceremony this year felt like a cheaper version of what it once used to be. Students who are beginning their studies at NMBU are worthy of a warm welcome where they are pampered for having just started here. My biggest fear is that NMBU will look at its students as milking cows to attract money from the Ministry of Education and Research. Most of all, I wonder why NMBU decides to change an honoured tradition. Do get back to me on that in the next edition!