The USR (Universitaire Studentenraad, or University Student Council) is made up out of elected student representatives and exerts influence by having frequent meetings with the executive board of the university as the USR holds powers of consent over issues ranging from strategic policy to financial support for students. Being a student council member is a position that requires great dedication and responsibility but is also the ideal place for students to effect change at the university and gain experience as a representative, which is what attracted our two soon-to-be council members from PPE to run for office.
Suvarn Nagan, a first year PPE student from South Africa, got elected to the USR for the SRVU party and wants to bring more diversity to the council. Suvarn: “I wanted to join the USR to improve inclusivity. I have always been interested in politics and I’ve gotten some experience with organising by sitting on two committees within Kallioppe, which is what gave me the confidence to run for the USR when I learned about that possibility, because I think influencing from the inside (by taking part in the decision making) fits me better than influencing from the outside (by protesting). I think that in the current council there isn’t yet enough diversity and as an international student of colour from outside of the EU I can bring a useful different perspective. I believe the university should, alongside inclusivity, also offer stability for students to fully benefit from their studies which is why I want to help solve problems such as the international students’ struggle to find housing or the lack in gender inclusivity. The current and previous councils have already made progress on these regards by way of the housing lottery and a few genders inclusive bathrooms in the VU, but the problems aren’t solved yet and we must go further. These are the issues that I want to fight for, and I hope that after a year I can look back on a job well done. Our uniqueness is our strength, but it can only be celebrated once it is respected.”
Hidde Smid, also a PPE first year and from the Netherlands, was inspired by a different kind of lack in diversity in the current council and got himself elected running for the Liberal University Party, which he founded himself. Hidde: “I have been interested in politics quite some time, as I am active in a youth political organisation (the JOVD) and I was interested in perhaps joining the university council while I studied in Groningen. This year, studying in Amsterdam, the policies of the USR somewhat irked me as they were concerned with superficialities and seemed activistic in their nature, and weren’t aimed at the university’s core business: education. I also regretted that in the current council there seems to be no diversity of opinion; incumbent council members all hold broadly the same left-progressive beliefs, while this isn’t true for all students at uni. I want to bring a liberal perspective to the council, focused on promoting individual liberty for students by putting a halt to current nudging policies like the removal of paper cups, the meatless month in the cafeteria or even the cutting of ties with the fossil fuel industry. Students should be able to make their own choice in these matters. It will be hard being a one-man party in a council of eleven, but I want to be constructive and reach compromises like in the Dutch poldermodel to get closer to my goals, I don’t simply want to obstruct or complicate measures that I disagree with. I belief our university is a force for good in the world and the best way to use that force is to stay focused on improving education and not using valuable resources on issues tangentially related to it.”
At the John Stuart Mill College students are of course educated in the disciplines of Philosophy, Politics and Economics, but some eager students already become active in (university-)politics even before graduating. As the dust of campaign season settles, we look forward to seeing what Hidde and Suvarn will be able to accomplish next academic year in their roles as council members.