Turnout figures for the University Council, faculty council and Employee Council elections have been dropping for years. Last year, an average of only 15.5 per cent filled in the ballot (also see the text box). Regularly – especially in the case of the Employee Councils and the employee factions of the faculty councils – there are just enough candidates for the number of seats and elections are therefore superfluous. Does this mean that university democracy is doomed to die?
Short lines
Political scientist Johan Adriaensen (FASoS) doesn’t think so. “The councils are important, but they are not the beginning and the end of university democracy. Lines are short, especially within faculties. Someone who is now on the board, may have been your tutor in a block last year. When important issues are at stake, such as ‘Recognition and Rewards’, or policy changes that concern our education, we as staff are also consulted. In that case, you can give your opinion in one of the committees or simply talk with the dean or vice dean. The need to keep a check on those in power through a council is less relevant.”
Nevertheless, it would be nice if turnout figures were a bit higher, Adriaensen thinks. “As a political scientist, I think it’s my moral duty to vote, but I admit that I’m not always very enthusiastic. Especially since there doesn’t seem to be much to choose from. Sometimes there is only one choice or there are hardly any differences between the parties. Election programmes are often very general, with few concrete points. At the same time, opinions in the workplace often do differ.” In addition, he feels that communication about what is decided in participation bodies is sometimes difficult. “What cases have been submitted, what discussions are being held? That is not always clear from the minutes, which one has to actively search for too. That results in less involvement.”
Support
For Collin Prumpeler, head of Student Affairs at FASoS and University Council member for support staff (OBP), emphasises the collaboration in the Council. “There are four OBP members in the University Council, and I don’t regard the others as representatives of other parties, but just as colleagues. We are all there to promote the interests of the university community.”
He attributes the low turnout figures for the elections partly to the workload. “Everybody is busy doing their job.” He does hope that employees will realise that the council can make the difference. “Matters such as the budget or the Strategic Plan. Those are areas where one can have an influence. That is why it is important that people vote. I always say: If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain afterwards. This is your chance to make sure something will happen. And you give your colleagues who have put themselves up for a seat some support. It feels more comfortable if you know you are backed by 50 per cent than by 15 per cent.”
Student council
Raman Ojha, second-year student of European Law, is cautiously positive about the role of the councils. “When I listen to the people around me, I get the impression that students are now better informed than last year about the process and the difference that the council can make.” Still, he also sees that “many students think that it is not important or relevant for them.” He believes that this is caused by the limited visibility of the council. “The minutes of meetings are not easy to find; it is often quite a search. And little is heard of council members. There is no connection between your vote and what happens in de council afterwards.”
And that is a pity, he thinks, because students – unlike employees – have few other options to exert an influence on policies. “The board, the programme committees and focus groups usually consist of staff members only, with an occasional student assistant. And then half of the faculty council is filled with employees. I would like to see the council consist of students only. Such a student council would then work together with other (employee) bodies within the faculty or the university.”
Last year, he tried to get into the law faculty council with his own party. His attempt failed. Is he going to try again? “No, I am going on an exchange visit next year and I would never put my name up for a seat if I knew that I couldn’t serve the full term. But even if that were not the case, I wouldn’t have run with my own party. Turnout figures are already low and if there is then a lot of competition among parties, you see that the established parties have an advantage. They know better how things work and people already know their name.”
He also believes that the parties often have more or less the same principles, but at the law faculty he does see one important difference. “Dutch parties focus on Dutch law, international parties on European Law School. The Dutch know better how such a council and the elections work and that is reflected in the results. At the moment, the council has only one international student; I find that quite problematic.”
Cleo Freriks