MEET THE NEW AU!

One early summer day, Tuntreet’s editors decided to take a walk outside in the fine weather to meet the new Student Board of the Student Parliament (AU). We meet Jens, Åse and Helene. The three representatives are all born in August 1997, none of them are from Østlandet (rare for AU), and they have dedicated this next year of their lives to working full-time for the Student Parliament of NMBU. Meet the new AU!

Journalist: Synne Louise Stromme and Sofie Bergset Janols

Translator: Elina Turbina

Photographer: Synne Louise Stromme

«What is AU?»

When we ask them this question, Helene blurts out: «It is hard to describe what AU is, rather easier to describe what we do». She further explains that when the Student Parliament decides something, like the resolution on students’ legal security, AU must work on this. For example: when it was decided that the students should get better information about their legal security, it was then AU’s responsibility to ensure that the leadership of NMBU actually does something about this.

Working beyond

AU’s tasks also involve working with other student-related matters and welfare services. Students of NMBU deal closely with the Students’ Association in Ås (SiÅs), who have a responsibility to provide the welfare services. AU wants to work actively to better these services, working with the available welfare funds at the same time. This involves, among other things, handing out welfare funds to associations to increase association activity, and improving the canteen offer and the general welfare in the student’s everyday life.

Jens adds that the Student Democracy has 400 elected representatives on many different levels. Examples include the class representatives and representatives in the Faculty Board. These are the elected representatives who, with the insights from students, regulate and decide which issues AU shall work with. AU works to promote the interests of students in meetings with NMBU, the municipality, and on the national level. «I like to see it as the link between the students and the leadership», explains Åse.

In summary, AU represents the students. They work towards reaching goals that we as students set, or for relevant problems that AU has been made aware of. They want to actively highlight what has a potential for improvement.

“Who are AU?”

As mentioned previously, none of the representatives are from Østlandet. The new AU consists of two Trønders and a Bergenser. But there is more behind these beautiful faces than the geographical affiliation.

**Jens Bartnes:**
Trønder

**(born 20.08.1997)**
**Education**: Jens has completed a double bachelor’s in International Environment and Development Studies (IEDS) and Social Economics.
**Areas of responsibility**: Leadership responsibility, finances, external contact, and internationalization. He will be the contact person for the municipality, NMBU, and other universities. Jens is AU’s public face and particularly wants to set a focus on which rights and requirements our exchange students also have.

**Helene Sylvarnes: Bergenser**

**(born 23.08.1997)**
**Education**: Helene has completed a bachelor’s in Nursing, took economics courses, and is planning to start a master’s in Entrepreneurship.
**Areas of responsibility**: Learning environment, study committee, and welfare. She wants to inform students that anyone and everyone has an influence on their everyday experience here and clarifies that anyone can report conditions that negatively impact their everyday experience here. Examples of this are dissatisfactory classrooms and canteen offers.

**Åse Vigdisdatter Nytrø: Trønder**

**(born 18.08.1997)**
**Education**: Åse is doing a master’s in International Environment Studies and Sustainable Finance Management.
**Areas of responsibility**: Sustainability, innovation, research, and marketing of and for the Student Democracy.

“What does the new AU wish to achieve?” – A sneak peek into the battle plan

When Tuntreet asked this question in June, before the new AU’s first workday on the 1st of August, the battle plan for the new representatives was not completely clear.

Nevertheless, they cautiously mention that they want to look into the canteen offers. They see the possibility for improvement in prices, opening hours, and selection. Sofie follows up with the question: «Will we see more vegan food?». The representatives smile slyly and reply that it is exactly one of the things they have on the agenda.

Sustainability is the focus area for AU. They explain that even though a lot of good work has been done already, the new representatives want to make the process more efficient. They add that they think the previous AU’s work on student innovation was very good and hope to take it further. Åse highlights Eik Lab, Urban Lab, and Food Lab as good initiatives, and emphasizes the importance of providing student innovation with a good framework for it to really flourish. She believes that there is an incredible amount of will and creativity in the NMBU studentship.

Jens says that they will also look into the University Strategy, which shall be adopted in the autumn. Here they want the students to be the focus and hope to introduce a fourth AU representative as a part-time position. They hope to have this position to be responsible for internationalization.

“Who can contact AU?”

As already mentioned, AU represents the students, but does this mean that anyone can contact the representatives?

The representatives explain that they work mostly on the executive level. They are fans of things being solved at the smallest level possible and suggest that one should start at the point where the problem has appeared. If you have a problem with the lectures, it may be a good idea to take it up with the lecturer or perhaps the class representative. If it is complicated to solve, or the problem is a bit more comprehensive, the representatives emphasize that there should be a low threshold to contact them. Are you still unsure how to get around this case? «Come to us if there is something wrong, so we can find out how to solve it», says Jens.

Åse concludes by saying that their office at U118 is open Monday to Friday from 10-14. Here you can come to have a coffee or eat lunch.