The Student Council 2009-2010
Left to right, standing up high: Antonio Chamorro (independent), Hermijn Speelman (Secretary), Angela Lewis (Technical Chair), Wen Zhang (co-chair PSF) Suzanna van der Meer (PSF)
Standing: Ian Perry (independent), Susan van Aalst (VeSte), Anouk Platteel (VeSte), Judith van Niekerk (VeSte), Julie-Anne Tangena (co-chair VeSte), Tang Weiqin (PSF)
Kneeling: Yi Bingqing (VeSte), Kees van der Ark (VeSte), Eva Helmus (VeSte)
What do we do?
Main topics for this year (more information in Activities):
Internationalization
This year we will try to implement the language policy of the WUR, which holds that all information should be available in both Dutch and English. Besides we will try to improve the position of the WUR in the world and have an intercultural environment in the University.
Student Housing
Currently we are trying to solve the housing shortage. We are searching for long and short term solutions for all students.
In General
The Student Council is a body of students which represents the interests
of all students at Wageningen University. We have the possibility to give
our opinion about the plans and policies of the board of the university.
This means concretely that the Student Council can agree on plans or can
block plans of the university board. The Student Council also has the
power to present initiatives to the board of the university. The board
of the university is obliged to consider these initiatives seriously.
Of course your involvement is important in these issues.
To agree on "one Student Council point of view" we meet every six weeks.
During these meetings we discuss all issues which are important for students,
such as the quality of education, financial support for active students, student housing
and ICT.
The Student Council also has meetings with the teachers and staff of the
university. In these meetings we discuss issues which are not only important
for students but also for the university as a whole. Examples of these
issues are financing, education, communication, accomodation and research.
What are our Rights?
As members of the Student Council, we have 4 major rights:
- The Right to (dis)Approve
- The Right to Advise
- The Right to Initiate
- The Right to Information
What about the different Parties?
The Student Council consists of twelve students, divided over two parties this year.
There are three parties because not all Wageningen students think alike, unfortunately CSF wasn't able to find any members this year.
In this way, every student can be represented by a party that suits him
or her best.
Because of the differences between the parties, we often have lively discussions
which lead to one point of view we can all agree on. In this way, we take
the opinion of the students to the members of the Executive Board of WUR.
How do the Elections Work?
There are 12 seats in the SC, and two SC parties/fractions participate
in the elections: The Progressive Student Fraction (PSF)
and the United Students (VeSte). The PSF is represented with 5 seats in the Student Council, the Veste Party has 7 seats.
Each year all WU students can elect their SC representatives. Students
can choose between the two fractions, which create a "list" of candidates,
and ultimately vote for one student on this list.
There is “proportional representation”, thus, depending on
the number of votes cast, divided by the 12 available seats, each party
receives their proportion of seats. Filling the seats is done from the
top of the list downwards. For example, if a party receives four seats,
the first four candidates will be elected, even if the fifth candidate
received more votes than the fourth. There are some exceptions, however,
when a candidate is elected by preference. This means the candidate received
as many votes as the proportional amount per seat (total votes/ 12 seats).
In this case, that candidate, regardless of position on this list, will
be elected.