Why should you care about the representative council elections?
“Elections are the best time of your life,” as the saying goes. This autumn, it’s time for another round of elections, as the representative council elections are held in all universities in Finland. The representative council is the highest decision-making body of the student union. It decides on, among other things, the student union’s budget and major strategic directions. But what kind of things have been decided in the representative council over the years? Certainly those budgets and strategic lines, but also the update of the songbook PunaMusta, the renovation of Kellari, and decisions about which active members are rewarded for their outstanding contributions to the student union.
The author knows all too well that once you give a finger to student politics, it takes the whole hand. When I sat as a deputy member in the council during my second year I had no idea the student union would completely sweep me away, offering amazing opportunities to influence things. I had the opportunity to prioritize my time for the student union, and I often did so at the expense of my studies. I realize that this is a privileged opportunity, one not everyone can afford. With worsening economic conditions and increasing pressure to graduate quickly, participation in student politics isn’t at the top of everyone’s priority list. Time goes into studying and for many, also into working alongside studies.
One great thing about Finland is that everyone can attend university, regardless of their background. Society has long supported students directly through financial aid, and indirectly by enabling the construction of affordable student housing near campuses. This may no longer be a given in the future. Recently, the news has been filled with articles about benefit cuts and new cost-cutting measures. These measures have hit students hard. Cuts to housing allowance and the increasing loan-based structure of financial aid don’t exactly encourage longer study times, especially if a student is financially dependent solely on those supports.
So is it possible that, in the future, only students with savings, a job, or financially supportive parents will be the ones participating in student organizations, while those in tougher financial situations focus on graduating as quickly as possible? Who, then, is left without a voice? The representative council is meant to represent the full spectrum of students at the university, so maintaining diversity and inclusiveness is vital for sound decision-making. You surely wouldn’t want someone who doesn’t represent your background, values, or ideology to make decisions about your future. You know best what kind of world you want to live in and what is important to you. The least you can do is vote for a candidate who thinks the same way you do.
I encourage all of you: apply. Apply to the representative council. Apply to join your guild’s board, become a student representative in the university’s decision-making bodies, and join communities that influence your everyday life. Influence matters that are important to you and make the most of your time as a student. If applying is not an option for you, then at least vote. Vote for a candidate who shares your way of thinking – it is the smallest possible action you can take to make a difference.
Finally, I would like to remind you that it is not necessarily the end of the world if your graduation is slightly delayed compared to the university’s targets. If graduates are to be believed, the experiences and lessons learned through active participation are more valuable than an extra year at work. I trust the wisdom I have heard many times at the student union office: “You will have time to complete all your courses before graduation.”
Pinla Nokkanen
The author is a student union active, who (still) hasn’t graduated.