The performance took place in Forum. Photo Resource
How do you explain to students what being a student council member entails? It is a complex story, and there is always the risk that people will quit. Student Council party S&I (Sustainability & Integration) decided to tell the story through a play, with the audience as potential candidates.
A year ago. Ring ring! Beijia Zhou, a student of Food Safety, gets a call. ‘Hi! You helped us promote S&I, the caller says. ‘How would you feel about joining the Student Council?’ Zhou had never given it any thought. ‘The student Council? Seriously? What does that mean?’
‘I did what any student in that situation would do, I googled’, says Zhou. Her search yielded a variety of topics: sustainability, integration, student council, dossiers, activities and policy issues. ‘But I still had no idea what it meant to be in the Student Council. There are all sorts of positions: party member, student council member and a member of a committee within the council. And there is the Student Staff Council, which has various roles available.’ Still, Zhou decided to join the student council. ‘At the start of the academic year, there are courses which help make it a lot simpler. You are well-prepared.’
Party meeting
Time for scene two, the party meeting. Four S&I members sit at a table and update each other on their projects. One of them is working on an art and cultural centre on the campus. ‘We launched a survey to inventory the students’ wishes, but we need more respondents before we take it to the executive board. How do we manage that?’. Another S&I member works on getting free and sustainable menstruation products, such as reusable pads, available on campus. ‘I feel these products should be available in every building.’ Another member wonders what to do about promoting the student council elections. Should we make promotional materials, and if so, how can we make them sustainable? What about saddle covers? ‘Visible, for sure, but how sustainable are plastic covers?’ A birds-eye view of the life of a student council member.
The play ends after scene two. After a short round of applause, the S&I members push a few tables together to have lunch with the audience and see if there are any suitable candidates among them. A previous performance yielded some candidates, says Zhou.
Other parties
Student Council party CSF (Christian Student Faction) is also still looking for candidates. They have an information session in Orion B3040 this Thursday from 12:30 to 13:30 hrs. VeSte (Students United) already had some informative events. Students wishing to be added to their list of candidates may contact VeSte. The final lists of candidates must be submitted by the student parties on 19 April.
