Hunting for votes
They’re on the prowl, lurking in the bushes. At every entrance to the campus, they will be there. From dusk till dawn, they lie dormant. Camouflaged in either blue or green sweaters, they roam. No one is safe this week. On the weakest of moments they will pry your vote from your cold, sweaty hands. But after this long and unpleasant experience you can’t help but wonder: ‘What have I voted for?’
The campus is a beehive of activity this week (as you might’ve noticed). This week, and this week only, there are elections for the university’s plethora of representative bodies. Every faculty has a council: each council consists of a number of students and teachers. The students have to be elected to get a position on a council. But there is more at stake.
On university level, there is a council as well; nine students and nine employees make up the university council. The nine students are members of the two political parties on campus: ‘fractie Front’ (green) and ‘fractie SAM’ (blue). Getting elected as a member of the university council is quite a big deal; there are lots of ways in which the council can influence the executive board of the university.
The university council has to give their consent to plans proposed by the executive board. Not all plans are up for debate though, but for most of the remaining policy changes the council can give advice to the executive board. The council gives advice when the executive board asks them, but they can also give unsolicited advice. Furthermore, the board has to keep the council up to date on current affairs; they are not allowed to withhold information. The council also has the right to call a meeting with the board if they choose to do so.
The nine seats are divided according to votes: the biggest party gets the most seats. If you have the majority in the council you naturally exert more influence. Getting votes is important and representatives go to hell and back for one.
This explains the large number of representatives on the hunt, on the lookout for people who haven’t voted yet. Most representatives have a lot of supporters, as most of them are prominent members of large study associations or fraternities. Still, everyone has an equal chance to get elected so lots of students pick up the glove and fight for election. Some students campaign from eight in the morning until ten at night; for five days straight.
Tilburg University is looking to enhance its international appeal. So the student parties naturally follow suit: the election programs of both student parties are available in English. So read up on their programs (Fractie Front and Fractie SAM) and when they finally trap you, cast an informed vote.
And be sure to ask for a sticker stating that you have voted. You can enjoy the rest of your week in relative peace.
