Vice-President in StOr and the leader of the election committee this year, Morten Rønne, has one request to students at UiS: – It is extremely important that you run for election.

WHAT COLOR?: Mirror, mirror on the wall, what color will the winner this year have?, does the Vice-President in StOr and election committee leader, Morten Rønne, wonder.

It will become a historical election, when the electronical link officially opens on October 12th this year. Then, students at the University of Stavanger (UiS) will only be a few keystrokes away from electing the list of their preference and in that way have as many representatives as possible and obtain as much power as possible in the Student Parliament.

– The Student Parliament is the highest body at UiS, and the students that sits here get a lot of power regarding what is happening in the Student Organization in Stavanger (StOr), says Morten Rønne, Vice-President in StOr and leader of this years election committee. Last year, he ran for election for the blue list, that finally won the election, and all the representatives were elected on to the Student Parliament.

Was totally uncommitted
– Before I ran for election with the blue list, I was a very uncommitted student. It is shocking to think of how much things have changed since then, says Rønne, and smiles a bit.

Since he finally joined the blue list before the election, he got the chance to be a part of the Student Parliament, and now he sits as a Vice-President of StOr. Now he encourages absolutely everyone that believes they can make a difference, to run for election connected to a list.

– You are free to choose and you only need a case that you strongly believe in, and it can be anything from «more parking place – list» to « a green environment – list», says Rønne. Until now, both the red and the blue list is on to something, but he has also heard of a nature and environment – list, that consider to run for election.

Before I ran for election with the blue list, I was a very uncommitted student. It is shocking to think of how much things have changed since then, says Rønne, and smiles a bit. – Morten Rønne, Vice-president in StOr and leader for the election commitee.

Bad election response
Last year, only 13,4 percent of the students at UiS voted. And the years before have not been any better. Rønne really hopes that the election this year, which is the first electronical election ever, will change that trend.

– I believe and hope that we will experience an increased response, but I do not dare to guess a result. No matter what, we will still market the election through Facebook and Twitter, as well as an election page on the website of UiS, and I believe that most of the students will then know about the election. It just depends whether they vote or not, says Rønne.

Entering the bank-building
As a representative in the Student Parliament one can make things happen. Something the history also has shown. When Stavanger municipality opened the doors to the Norges Bank-building in order to make a use of it, the red list, which had two representatives last year, ceased the opportunity.

They suggested the use of this building to the other Student Parliament – members, and experienced a breakthrough all the way to the executive committee in Stavanger. Now the work has started to make it ready to move in for the students in Stavanger, who can use it for organizational work, reading and to socialize.

Two elections at the same time
Rønne adds that even though it is important with the election to the Student Parliament, one can not forget about the fact that there will be two elections at the same time. When the link to the poll opens for the Student Parliament – election, the election to the Faculty Boards also opens. The Vice-President means it is just as an important election in many ways.

– When you sit in the Faculty Board, one become the representative of the students at your faculty. One will do the work of StOr at the faculty you represents.

The election for the Faculty Board also needs people to run for election, but the difference from the Parliament, you run as an individual and without a program.

– You only need to tell a little bit about yourself and why you believe you can do a good job as a representative for your faculty on the board, says Rønne.

Student election at UiS

• In order to run for election at the Student Parliament, one would have to be on a list like the Red or the Blue list.

• The list that receives the most votes, get the most representatives in the Parliament.

• In order to run for election, one would have to come up with a name on the list that you want to be in the Student Parliament, confirm that five students are on the list, and send the information to StOr before September 10th.

• Two weeks after the deadline has expired, every list have to name their five students as well as having an election program ready that you once again submit to StOr.

• On October 12th, the link to the first electronical election ever at UiS opens. Then, the students can read about the different lists and give a vote to the list of their preference on Internet.

• In order to run for election to the Faculty Boards, one would have to write a little bit about yourself, why you run and then submit it to StOr before September 10th.

• In the Faculty Boards, you will find one representative from each faculty; HUM, SV og TEKNAT.