Tuntreet by the decade: the 00s

This is the decade I have been looking forward to the most! Now we are getting to the wildest frontpages, the most risque cases, and the largest internal changes to Tuntreet. The format changes as Tuntreet goes from being Samfunnet’s newspaper to a university magazine. The pages become wider, the layout gets spicier, the pictures become digital, and finally: the pages become more and more colorful. Let us dive into the wild and beautiful adventure that is Tuntreet in the noughties!

Journalist and photographer : Tord Kristian F. Andersen

Editors

The current system of two editors is now initiated. First, you are elected as editor (responsible for the content) on a half-year term, before continuing as editor-in-chief (responsible for everything) the following semester. This has allowed for a smooth transition and has let the system survive until today—almost like apostolic succession. As a footnote, I would like to mention that it was not until the 2000s that it was allowed to dismiss motions from the floor at Studentsamfunnet’s General Assembly.

Set content

«Two beers» gains its current format as a personality-based interview of well-known Ås locals. During this period, the people were found in various places, with subjects like employees, departing board members, newly elected ones, internationals, alumni, and everything in-between. I particularly appreciate those completely unexpected and peculiar subjects who were elected. There is not just one type of student. Rotskudd is paired up with the leader articles for most editions. Amongst other various content, “dyrehagen” is retired and will later be substituted by the “lag og foreninger-spalta" (teams and association-column).

2003

In 2003, Tuntreet does a 180 and takes on a more magazine-like style, in addition to reintroducing the traditional Tuntre logo from before 1968. The accented «e» is turned into a normal «e» to make better use of the space on the front page. The magazine becomes broader, the pictures larger, and there is less text. The webpage is also updated to match the new design, which is also worth a mention. At the time, they were working with 32 pages, although more text was on each page with 4 columns instead of today’s 3. The «articles in brief» are introduced the same year, which, as explained in the name, are shortened, translated versions of a select few articles of the edition. Tuntreet is also starting to play around with radio broadcasts in 2003. Still, the most important event of that year is Tuntreet entering an agreement with the Norwegian College of Agriculture (NLH) to act as their university newspaper, with increased funding. In other words: Tuntreet ends their members-only mailbox distribution venture and becomes free of charge on racks around campus.

The economy

Jan-Olav Øderud was editor-in-chief in 2003 and spoke of how the agreement consisted of NLH buying pages in Tuntreet. Meanwhile, they got more advertisement income, and Tuntreet was on a steady course, financially speaking. The following editor-in-chief, Erlend Guldbrandsen, says the economy after that would be fluctuating a bit. The financial support from the college would continue, albeit to a certain extent reduced. Nonetheless, the entire period had free on-campus Tuntreet distribution.

Tuntreet as a provocateur

Jan-Olav was very interested in politics and wanted Tuntreet to be an active participant in debates as a party not scared of being provocative. One of his opinions was that Tuntreet should be less dependent on Studentsamfunnet. He also had other causes he was vocal about, like how he felt it unnecessary that committee members were to be perceived as public representatives for Studentsamfunnet instead of ordinary party attendees. It may have gone a bit too far when TT’s journalist got kicked out of Samfunnet instead of reviewing Harald Eia’s standup show after he had one beer too many. Apart from that, a debate arose on the topic of admissions requirements to the economics degree, and Samfunnnet’s use of funds for sound equipment.

NLH becomes UMB

f there is one topic that is particularly hot at the time, it is whether NLH should become a university. This is realized after a while and with it, new debates arise. Should the Norwegian School of Veterinary Sciences (NVH) become a part of the University of Life Sciences (UMB)? Should campus Ås and Adamstuen be merged? What was supposed to be a ten-year plan would develop into a 14-year plan. The use of the A-F scale of grading is implemented, and so is the block system, which is still used today. The Biotechnology building, which has held the nickname Biopalasset throughout its building period, is also finalized.

In regards to Samfunnet, we can mention an incident in 2005 where there was a real chance of it losing its license to serve. The alcohol inspection took note of serving an excessively intoxicated person, but those responsible of the party claimed that they were never made aware of this and that the inspection was therefore unlawfully executed. It was their words against those of the alcohol inspection, so the municipality of Ås turned the note into a warning. The Bodega became a no-smoking zone in 2003. The 2004 logo of UKA was designed at the Tuntre office.

Layout and front pages

In the second half of the noughties, we observe a particularly specific front page and layout culture emerge. I will have a quick chat with the head of layout and editor-in-chief Siri Lundsett. She tells me that there was an emerging want to move away from the rigid newspaper structure which had been used up until that time. Se og Hør, Det Nye, and other women’s magazines are mentioned as sources of inspiration of that time. The change was significantly facilitated by more powerful software. Most importantly, it had to be fun. Ellinor Aas, who made the frog front page, explains that there was no specific strategy, they just worked with what they had. Gaining attention was just an added bonus. Ellinor also mentions that some of the more questionable layouts could be explained by the quality of the pictures being rather lacking at the time, and it was instead attempted hidden by some funny page setups.

Technical issues

The middle of the decade was affected by large technical issues. Like now, the magazine was compiled during a layout weekend. On one occasion, Siri tells me that on Sunday evening, they lost everything that was compiled in InDesign, and straight-up had to start all over again from scratch. When the computers at the Tuntre office were down, they would use the ones at Ur the entire night. The magazine would be submitted at 6 am. A dire moment was when Tuntreet’s entire archives were attempted moved to Linux, which did not go well. Luckily, Tuntreet received funding for new computers shortly after.

All in all, this was a decade full of excitement. Following the noughties, we will move into a decade where I myself have taken part in Tuntreet. So what actually characterizes this decade? Loads of silliness. And massive photo pages. Follow us as we venture into the 2010s!