The leading candidates. Photo VeSte, CSF, S&I From 9 to and including 12 May, students can elect their representatives for the student council. Resource presents the three top candidates.
There are twelve seats available on the council and three parties from which to choose: Verenigde Studenten (VeSte, currently 7 seats), Sustainability & Integration (S&I, currently 3 sears) and the Christian student faction (Christelijke Studenten Fractie CSF, currently 2 seats).
Maartje van den Bosch (22), top candidate for VeSte
‘Studying is more than just studying; academic development is something that also happens outside of the classroom’, Van den Bosch states. She is a master’s student of Biology and a member of Ceres. In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors and painting. She has lived in Wageningen for a while now. ‘I have been here for five years and am still enjoying it. Wageningen is a unique student city with a pleasant atmosphere where everyone is welcome. I want to contribute to keeping the university and the student life I enjoy so much this way.’
‘VeSte focuses on active students. One of my main focal points is maintaining generous resitting options. Having sufficient opportunities to resit exams offers flexibility. This is important for all students, especially those that are active next to their studies. This flexibility makes serving on a board for a year attractive.’
Other things help students to be active next to their studies, says Van den Bosch. ‘The financial support WUR offers (the FOS, financial support for students, ed.) is of great value. A great provision that we want to keep.’ Moreover, WUR must continue to strive for ‘the best education to prepare students for the future.’ Stimulating campus education is essential, Van den Bosch says.
Muskan Mathur (22), top candidate S&I
‘Our university is exceptionally diverse, and the Student Council plays a very crucial role in representing this diverse population’s interests’, says Mathur (Master’s student in Biotechnology). Mathur is from India. As this is her first spring in the Netherlands, she has been busy admiring the flowering nature. Also, she has been learning Dutch. As the chair of Wageningen Environmental Platform, she has been engaged in organising and promoting activities about sustainable practices in the university and the city. ‘I’m always finding ways to be more sustainable on a personal and environmental level.’
‘I want to focus on both the sustainable and unsustainable practices of the university’, says Mathur. ‘I would like to be more critical with the Executive Board regarding sustainability, collaboration with the private sector and social safety, for instance.’ As the leading candidate of S&I, integration is also a priority for Mathur. ‘I was impressed by the current Student Council’s role in One World Week, the WUR-lympics and the All around the World events, which were great.’
Mathur is also looking forward to listening to students, staff and citizens of Wageningen. ‘By listening carefully to nature, scientists, indigenous communities, artists, and every other perspective, we will be able to solve the challenges we are facing. Being in the Student Council would give me the opportunity to listen to more people, be inspired and contribute making our university more sustainable.’
Linda Juma (28), top candidate CSF
‘Even though I’m from Kenya, I do not jog in my free time,’ Juma jokes. However, that leaves her more time for the church, choir practice, and the board of the United Community of African Students (UCAS). Juma is currently in her second year of the Master’s in Climate Studies, with a specialisation in Human-Environment Interaction, a social angle. She also takes a social angle on the Student Council: ‘Social integration and a smooth settling of new students are two of my biggest priorities,’ she explains.
As a mentor in her study programme, Juma helped new students to get around in the first two months of the year. ‘Students should be introduced to Wageningen in a way that does not shock them. They experience a whole new system that you have to grasp rapidly. For example: if you fail an exam while you are here on a scholarship, you can feel like you will be sent away and get stressed. At such a moment, assistance and information on the Wageningen resit system can help a lot.’ For this, a mentorship program is essential, Juma argues. Also, she pleads for Dutch language courses focusing on preparing international students for internships and the job market. ‘This will motivate students to learn Dutch more.’
Juma stresses that it is important to vote. ‘The management does not interact directly with students very much. As Student Council, we will take the students’ problems, worries, and solutions to the board.’ She wants to represent all students, not only Christians. For example, she asks herself: ‘How can we improve the housing situation in Wageningen for all students?’
