A solution found for Café Multilingua

The Café will probably be kept every week, thanks to a solution that is about to be implemented.

The students were disappointed and dissatisfied with the university’s decision of organizing the Café Multilingua only once a month.

Yesterday, at SOL (the language and literature centre), a petition was already being signed by the students so as to keep the Café alive every week.

However, there is an alternative that can avoid further discussion. The Student Union for the Humanities and Theology (HTS) has shown interest in organizing the Café every week.

Clara Lundblad, the president of the union, announced yesterday during the Café Multilingua that it will “probably be run by the union with the help from two students”.

Clara expects a final decision to be made in two weeks: “There will be a solution soon. We are going to work hard to make it happen”, she said.

When contacted by the Lundagård, Lynn Åkesson, the dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Theology, explained that the cafeteria at SOL has exclusive rights on serving if the university is organizing an event in that place. This makes the cost of coffee that is given to the students during the Café Multilingua so high that the university cannot support it.

Nevertheless, if the HTS takes the responsibility for organizing the event, the obligation to buy coffee from the cafeteria does not apply, which reduces the costs of this weekly activity.

Another issue was also pointed out by Clara Lundblad was that the International Affairs Manager at SOL, Carlos Tuesta-Soldevilla, who was in charge of administrative work related to the Café Multilingua, “has reduced his working hours”, which creates difficulties in coping with a high paperwork workload. Once the HTS takes charge of Café Multilingua, this problem will also be solved.

Clara was given the petition signed by many students yesterday. She also counted approximately 100 students present at the Café, from which 50 were Swedish and 28 were students at SOL. Nine people said they were not studying at Lund University.

Why do you go to Café multilingua?

Anna Summer. 24 years old, from Germany. Studies International Development and Management

“I come to Café Multilingua to practice French, keep it up-to-date and to meet Swedish people. The coffee and the cookies are not really necessary. I can bring my own if I want”

Jacqueline Lidin. 18 years old, from Sweden. Studies French.

“We want to meet people from other countries and speak their languages”. The Café is good for that!”

Emil Iversen. 26 years old, from Sweden. Studies Asian Studies.

“I come here to keep my language skills and not to forget what I’ve learnt. It’s hard to find people and opportunities to speak Japanese, but I can do it here”

Arne Ingemansson. 21 years old, from Sweden. Studies Social Planning.

“I come here to speak and eat cookies! [laugh] No, I want to practice my languages skills and would definitely come without cookies. I think it’s important that the Café happens every week to keep a routine. And it’s also better to learn a language if you speak every week”