Party politics in Ås
Party politics in Ås
Students in Ås are known for their involvement, but how committed are they really when it comes to party politics? Does Rødt and MDG dominate among the students? Is it taboo to have certain political opinions? Are the Board of Samfunnet members really undercover representatives from AP? Tuntreet has dug out the answers, and are coming to the rescue!
Journalist and photographer: Iris van Brunschot
Illustrator: Anne Trætteberg Reitan
Politics infiltrated Samfunnet
In the 1970s and 80s, the Board of Samfunnet were appointed on a political ground. This means that the whole board was elected at the same time from the same constellation. The constellations consisted of members from the same party/organization. Examples of these were Senterstud. Sos.Front, Raud Front and KSF (Ås Conservative student forum).
Quite often Senterstud would triumph in the elections, but in the fall of ’84 Sos.Front, with members from both AP and SV, were elected. Einride Berg (AP) were one of the candidates in the new Board of Samfunnet, and he believed that Sos.Front won because people were getting tired of Senterstud. The boards new leader, Roar Tobro, claimed they also “[could] offer more meetings that didn’t have anything to do with farmers, or the life on the country side.”
That same fall, a discussion started about the political grounds for the election process. Editor of Tuntreet at the time, Knut Gustav Vasdal, wondered why elections of the Board of Samfunnet had to be political, and called the discussions in GA a political “big-wig-show a la the party leader debate”.
Are AP and SV ruling Samfunnet today?
In Tuntreets questionnaire about party politics, more than half of the students answered that party politics does not belong in Samfunnet (86 of 160 total answers). That matches well with the reorganizing of the Board of Samfunnet in 1991, which has resulted in the members being elected to individual positions, and not based on political constellations. Still, the left side continues to dominate among the political involvement of students in Ås.
Slightly more than 80% of the students identify more with the left side of politics when given the choice between the right and left wing. It matches well with the students’ votes for the general election in 2021 where the right wing got little support (4,7% voted Høyre, no one voted FrP). The parties who are seen as the left (Rødt, SV, AP) got 46,1% of the votes, while the center parties (MDG, SP, Venstre, KRF) got 47,7%. The party who got the most votes is MDG, with 25,5% of the votes. Does that mean we are headed towards a greener future?
Red-green students
When asked which party students have heard the most about in Ås, 65% answered MDG. Rødt got second place with 20%. How do these parties manage to maintain interest and be so visible?
Leader of Ås Grønne Studenter, Wilhelm Anthun, thinks that the interest comes from the students that choose NMBU. All the green clubs that are here contribute to the maintaining and amplifying of the interest. “It’s not hard to find someone who cares about nature in Ås,” he says. “When the political elections come, we can offer specific solutions.” Anthun points to the bees which are pollinating the first flowers of spring, while he talks about the importance of area neutrality and nature conservation. That is something Anneli Rystad Aune from Rødt agrees with.
Rystad Aune cares about stopping the destruction of nature that leads to eco-collapse. “The climate and the environment are one of Rødt’s most important issues,” she says. Furthermore, she points to a regenerative culture within the party, as well as open and good communication outwards as important aspects of strengthening the interest in party politics. But it is not only Grønne Studenter and Rødt who have a strong presence in Ås.
Which student chapter have you heard the most about? (159 anwsers)
Diverse party-political involvement
Ås Sosialistiske Studenter, Ås Senterstudenter and Høyres Studenter Akershus are some of the other student associations. Arbeiderpartiets Studentlag Ås has also recently set up a new board. The wrecking of the earth, sustainable agriculture politics, and the voices of youth are common issues of importance for the parties. There is enough passion to choose between. Yet, there are only a minority of the students who are involved in party politics.
Almost 2/3 of the students steer clear of party politics. The most common reasons are being short on time, lacking interest, doesn’t know, and lack of relevance for their studies. On the other hand, the ones who are involved mention that it is important for the future, it feels exciting and meaningful. It brings on a shared feeling of accomplishment and pride for their work and their opinions.
A taboo subject?
Party politics is less of a taboo subject in Ås than you might think. Nigisti Kuflu from Høyres Studentlag Akershus thinks that it is about being open and polite when speaking with other parties. The student population mostly agrees, as 60% answered that they can talk about their political stance with everyone in Ås.
It can still be hard or tiring to talk about party politics because of prejudice. “You are oftentimes put in a box when you tell others what you’re voting,” Anneli says. She also experiences being discredited, especially by older people. “It’s very sad, because youth and student organizations have important opinions about very real problems.”
A network of commitment
Increased work across party lines could help fight prejudice against different opinions. All of the student organizations in Ås are positive to increasing the cooperation, and this diverse network gives ground for a lot of good work. On the next page you can read what some of the organizations work with. Maybe you find something you could get involved with?
5* party political students
Questions:
When was the organization founded?
What cases are you working on at the time?
Coolest event in the near future?
What would you tell Ås students to get them involved in party politics?
Wilhelm Anthun, leader of Ås Grønne Studenter
We were founded in 2013 as one of MDG’s original local organizations.
We have worked a lot with the climate strike and bike repair party.
Picking up trash and tidying around Årungen.
If something sounds a bit tempting, just try!
Anneli Rystad Aune, representative for Rødt Ås studentlag
I was a part of founding Rødt Ås Studentlag the fall of 2019.
Work with forest protection and equal rights politics are high on the agenda.
Socialist beer with SV, you should come!
Get involved in the issues around you: If not you, who? If not now, when?
Yonatan Bisrat Taye, leader of Ås Sosialistiske Studenter
We were founded the fall of 2017.
Student welfare and stopping the wrecking of the earth and the war in Ukraine
1st of May parade in the center of Ås.
If you’re passionate about issues like the climate, solidarity and feminism, then we are the ones for you!
Steffen Fjellestad, leader of Ås Senterstudenter
Ås Senterstudenter was founded in 1950.
Preperations to national meeting and social events
Peltordrøs, it’s a tacky word for coffee and chatting :)
It’s giving to engage in politics in addition to school. Party political students asociations is a good way to influence and be heard!
Nigisti Kuflu, board member in Høyres Studenter Akershus
61 years ago, in 1961.
Family and finance, as well as politics that matters to students.
A panel discussion with women from DNB and Høyre about what it’s like to be in the financial sector.
Vote young! No matter what party you’re voting for, we need young voices to raise the issues of the youth and the students!
*We were not able to reach Ås Liberal Students and Arbeiderpartiets Studentlag Ås before publishing. We could not find student organizations for KrF and FrP in Ås. If a party feels overlooked, send an email to tuntreet@gmail.no
Comments from the survey
Do you think speaking about party politics is taboo? Why/ why not?
I don’t think there is anything wrong with presenting multiple points of view. I have no strong connection to any specific party, but find it helpful to listen to many different viewpoints and arguments.
I am scared of being looked down on and judged by people who think differently.
Yes. People often care more about the person than the case, or that everything about your party is gruesome because you have unconventional and untraditional points. Generally, in political conversations I find that many care more about mocking than listening and learning.
It seems like the students are not open for strong opinions that differ from the communist or socialistic point of view. It often leads to heated discussions and little respect towards the different opinion.
Not necessarily party politics, but certain topics, like windmills and fjord mining deposits seem very polarized, and if you support them, it gets aggressive very quickly. People don't seem interested in a discussion, only in stating their own opinion.
Anything to add?
I think student organizations associated with political parties should be able to rent rooms for open events at Samfunnet! We feel forced out, despite meeting the 75% members demand, and having many events that aren’t necessarily about politics, but contribute to student welfare.
Better safe than sorry
Neo-liberalism is so out of date!
I feel like there are few students who get involved in party politics at NMBU, which is a shame, because we learn so much that we should use to influence society! I wonder why people aren’t getting involved
Where did beer and politics bodega go?
Weed should be legalised at Samfunnet
