TT Taboo: Student associations

– insider and outsider perspectives —

Ås is known as the place of study in Norway with the highest density of student associations and clubs per student. A student club can be important for a sense of belonging and be the start of lifelong friendships.

But there is always a dark side of the moon. The way the student association life is perceived from the outside is not necessarily the whole truth. Tuntreet has sent out a survey to get closer to the real life of the student associations. The survey got 73 responses.

Journalist: Ingvild Lauvstad Sunde

Illustrator: Synne Louise Stromme

Student associations in Ås – A Long History

Norway saw its first-ever student association when the Hankatt association was founded in 1902. The first female association at NLH was the Hunkatt association, founded in 1960. The association was then made up of the 10 female students who were admitted to the university. After this, the number of clubs and associations kept growing and today there are over 80 student associations and clubs in Ås!

The increase has resulted in a wide variety of clubs. We have primarily social clubs, study associations, and region-based associations for members with geographic connections. There are, in addition to this, interest-based clubs for members with everything from sporty to musical hobbies. Many students join an association, but what are their motivations?

Student associations – a chance to expand your social circle

The survey was answered by about 70% women and 30% men. Out of the seven faculties, there were most answers from the REALTEK and LANDSAM students, both with 26%. Over half of the participants answered that they were part of an association. 41 of the 46 that said they were part of an association also stated that it was because they wished to expand their social circle and make more friends. Most of them also answered that they wanted to do something fun during their time at university. 31 (67%) answered that they wanted to join the association’s activities, and no one felt pressure to join. Close to 80% stated that the initiation of the association was just fun. The rest found it “just alright”.

Wanted to expand my social circle and make more friends.
Wanted to do something fun during my studies
Wanted to party more
Wanted to drink more alcohol
Wanted to do something outside of studying
Wanted to join a choir/join a marching band/dance/have a volunteer board position/take part in what the specific association is known for.
Wanted to make a revue
Thought the uniform was nice
Felt like I had to/felt pressured to do so

What is the main reason for you joining a student association? (47 answers)

Peer pressure within the associations – does it lead to a positive or negative change in personality?

Around 70% of the 46 that stated they are in an association answered that they haven’t experienced any form of peer pressure. 26% however, stated that they have experienced different kinds of pressure. The alternatives were about drinking, sex, looks, personality, and participation. Of the ones experiencing peer pressure, most of them experienced pressure to partake in everything, then followed by peer pressure to drink. It is easy to believe that drinking pressure is what naturally occurs the most. However, the survey shows that association members feel that they are expected or required to part take in everything. Therefore, it is a lesser-known side to the student association life how time consuming it can be.

Drinking- peer pressure to drink alcohol
Sex- peer pressure to have sex with someone in and outside of the association.
Personal- peer pressure to join every event or happening
Looks- peer pressure to dress or present yourself in a certain way
Personality- peer pressure to act a certain way or be a certain type of person

What sort of peer pressure have you experienced? (13 anwsers)

It is easy to get carried away when one is suddenly part of a larger social group. Maybe you feel the need to change to fit in better? Maybe you start imitating a stereotype about how the association members act? A little over half of the ones who stated they were members of an association thought they had only a positive change after joining. About 30% stated that they had changed, but not necessarily because due to their participation in student association life. There were nevertheless 4% that thought that their personality had changed negatively as a result of their membership. 8% stated that they hadn’t changed at all.

Do you feel like you have changed after joining an association? (47 anwsers)

Peer pressure to join an association?

70% of the nonmembers participating in the survey answered that they hadn’t experienced any pressure to join. However, 28% felt it can be challenging to establish yourself socially outside an association. A little under half stated that not being part of an association wasn’t a problem. However, 70% still answered that they were not planning to join an association, despite the previous answers.

Do you feel excluded in any sort of way due to not being part of a student association? (25 anwsers)

Is there a good selection of student associations in Ås?

Over half of the respondents stated that there is a good selection of associations, and that there is something for everyone. The remaining respondents thought the selection was good, but that the student association life still isn’t for everyone. No one stated that student association life is exclusively for specific personalities, and it is a clear agreement that it is possible to find a fitting association.

A topic with many opinions hidden underneath the surface

We all have a subjective relationship with the student association life in Ås, no matter if you are part of an association or not. All thoughts and opinions that have been revealed through this survey are influenced by this and are something to think about when viewing the results. One thing is for sure though: the student association life, with its positive and negative aspects, is a thing that many have different thoughts and opinions about. Student association life should first and foremost be fun and give amazing friendships, but there is a dark side of the moon. We must not stop talking about this!