Rector magnificus Carolien Kroeze with (a part of) the new Student Council. Photo Resource VeSte grows from eight to nine seats, S&I shrinks from three to two, and CSF stays the same with one seat. Rector magnificus Carolien Kroeze announced the results on the stage in Forum on Monday, 26 May.
Of the 11,825 students eligible, 3,975 cast their votes, accounting for a turnout rate of 34 per cent. An increase compared to last time, when the turnout was 30 percent.
‘For the Executive Board, the Student Council is very important,’ Kroeze spoke before announcing the results. ‘They help us make the most important decisions on education, the campus, budget cuts and more. We have intense discussions with each other on a variety of topics. The Council is a place where students learn an awful lot and where they can make things happen.’
Euphoria at VeSte
After the results were announced, current Student Council chair Hanna Elsinga addressed the newly elected VeSte-members: ‘I had not prepared a speech for nine seats. I am super proud. We also achieved a high turnout rate together. That’s super nice! I’m very curious to see what the nine of you will do next year!’
VeSte leading candidate Tessa Nuijten also responded enthusiastically. ‘I am more than happy! This result is better than expected. And 34 per cent is a nice turnout percentage. It’s nice that many students voted. Thank you all!’
Satisfied, not happy
Despite his party losing one seat, S&I leading candidate Caleb Turner can live with the result. ‘Personally, I am happy, because I will be in the council with a S&I-buddy. As a party, we were hoping for three seats. But I have gotten to know the other candidates from VeSte and Joshua from CSF, and I like all of them. I am really excited for next year.’
Joshua Ikebuiro will enter the council on behalf of CSF. He was not present because he had a meeting with the commissioner of his ACT-project. Current Student Council member Kingdavid Ozobodo reflects on the election result for CSF. ‘I would say I’m satisfied, not happy. The hope was to get more seats. But I think one seat is representative of the Christian student population in Wageningen. So I’m quite satisfied.’
Curious about Joshua Ikebuiro, Caleb Turner and Tessa Nuijten and what they want to work on in the Student Council next year? Resource spoke to them before the elections.
Translated using DeepL.com
