Running for Election at This Spring’s General Assembly? – An Overview of the Positions to Be Filled
Running for Election at This Spring’s General Assembly?
– An Overview of the Positions to Be Filled
On the 24th of March, Samfunnet will open its doors for this spring’s General Assembly. Many positions will, in good democratic tradition, be handed over to new students, and anyone who wants to run is welcome to do so. Who will organize the next career day or manage Samfunnet’s finances? Who will be responsible for events, and who will join the Election Committee to put together the next General Assembly?
Journalist: Eirik Vistnes
Translator: Bora Gulersen Sezgin
Photographer: Ingunn Reimers
This spring, the list of positions is longer than usual, because after two years culminating in the 100th-anniversary celebration, UKA in Ås 2024, it’s time for a brand-new UKA Board! All eight positions are to be filled at the same time – it might be compared to steering a Spanish galleon safely into port without a map or particularly skilled sailors – but year after year, UKA has sailed through Samfunnet’s doors with its flag held high. This year, you might be one of the eight who will set the course for UKA in Ås 2026.
Half of the Samfunnet Board will also be elected at the General Assembly, along with representatives for the Business Committee at NMBU (NU). The Election Committee is looking for two new members, the House and Finance Board needs a student representative – and Tuntréet needs a new editor. If, after reading about the seventeen different positions (eighteen in total) up for election, you’re interested in running, make sure to write a strong candidate presentation explaining why you’re the right choice for the position you want. The presentation should be in both Norwegian and English, and while it’s not mandatory to submit one, it is highly recommended to strengthen your candidacy. If you have relevant qualifications, highlight them – but if all you bring to the table is enthusiasm, motivation, and a willingness to learn, that’s perfectly fine too. Holding a position at Samfunnet is a great opportunity to explore, develop new skills, and gain experience that will be valuable beyond your student years.
You can find more information about the General Assembly on Samfunnet’s website – including previous candidate presentations for inspiration – and it is absolutely encouraged to reach out to current officeholders and ask them about their roles in person. The deadline to submit your candidacy is March 17th. The General Assembly takes place on March 24th. See you there!
Positions Up for Election
Samfunnet Board
Leader (2 semesters)
Head of Finance (3 semesters)
Head of Events (3 semesters)
Business Committee (NU)
Head of Events (2 semesters)
Head of Administration (2 semesters)
Head of Career Day (3 semesters)
Tuntréet
Editor (2 semesters)
House and Finance Board
Student Representative (2 semesters)
Election Committee
Member (2 semesters)
Member (2 semesters)
UKA Board
Leader – UKA Chief (4 semesters)
Operations Chief (4 semesters)
Head of Events (4 semesters)
Marketing Chief (4 semesters)
Revue Chief (4 semesters)
Party Chief (4 semesters)
Service Chief (4 semesters)
Head of Finance (4 semesters)
What Do These Positions Involve?
Tuntréet reached out to several officeholders to learn more about what their positions entail. We received many great responses, though we couldn’t fit everything into this article. If you want to know more about a position, do as we did – ask around! That was the most common advice we received. However, one piece of advice was repeated even more often:
Take the leap, go for it, and run in this spring’s General Assembly!
Samfunnet Board
Leader: The Leader of the Samfunnet Board has the highest responsibility at Samfunnet and oversees its daily operations. This role requires maintaining an overall perspective on what’s happening at Samfunnet and acting as its representative in meetings with external parties.
Head of Finance: Responsible for Samfunnet’s finances. This position oversees a finance team, while an accounting assistant and deals with budgets, invoices, pricing, and more. If you are someone who enjoys working with numbers, this might be the position for you.
Head of Events: Responsible for planning the semester’s event schedule, coordinating with other organizations and student associations to ensure everything runs smoothly. This is an exciting role where you’ll constantly engage with new people.
Business Committee (NU)
Head of Events: Responsible for organizing smaller events that aren’t part of Career Day. This includes planning, booking, execution, and working closely with the rest of the board.
Head of Administration: Takes care of meeting minutes, documentation, booking stand spaces, and handling some internal finances. This role is as diverse as it is educational. Being organized is a useful trait for this position.
Head of Career Day: The main organizer of Career Day each semester. This role involves contacting companies, inviting them to participate, planning, executing, and handling post-event follow-up.
Tuntréet
Editor: Responsible for the overall content and operation of the student newspaper. The role starts as a journalism editor, guiding and mentoring the newspaper’s journalists. In the second semester, you become the editor-in-chief, taking on administrative duties such as HR, budgeting, and collaborating with other groups at Samfunnet.
House and Finance Board
Student Representative: An exciting role with various responsibilities which include: planning and organizing meetings, arranging a seminar each semester, and coordinating a seminar trip for the entire office wing. Additionally, the representative supports various boards where needed.
Election Committee
Members: The Election Committee is a four-person team responsible for finding candidates for the General Assembly. They also assist with setup and various practical tasks related to the event. In this role, you should be comfortable reaching out to people, as two new members will be elected this spring.
UKA Board
UKA Chief: The leader of the UKA Board and the entire UKA organization. This role serves as the public face of UKA, interacting with external and campus stakeholders, while also being a unifying and motivating force for the many volunteers who make UKA possible.
Head of Events: Responsible for the UKA program. Concerts, shows, technical setup, and logistics all fall under this role. It’s an exciting and rewarding position that allows you to shape the next UKA festival.
Marketing Chief: Leads a team of committee heads responsible for marketing, communication, and festival documentation. The goal is to generate excitement about UKA, attract guests, and preserve the festival’s legacy.
Revue Chief: Responsible for the administrative oversight of the UKA Revue. This role requires a balance of structure and playfulness – guiding the revue from its early concept to its grand premiere and beyond.
Party Chief: Ensures safety and a great atmosphere at UKA parties. This role involves overseeing the party crew and making sure all attendees have a good time. Occasionally, conflicts arise, so staying calm under pressure and enforcing rules when necessary is important.
Head of Finance: Handles budgeting, accounting, pricing, sponsorships, and more. Some finance experience is useful, but proficiency in Excel and strong motivation also go a long way.
Operations Chief: A new role in the UKA Board. This position oversees administration and facilities during UKA, including logistics, contracts, construction, venue design, and transportation. It’s a crucial role that requires problem-solving and coordination across different teams.
Service Chief: Another new position, responsible for serving food and drinks to thirsty partygoers and hungry volunteers. This role includes handling catering for student premieres, formal dinners, and other major events.
