750,600 SEK will be disbursed to the nations to promote non-alcoholic activities. In return, however, the University receives insufficient security as it pertains to transparency.
Since the abolishment of the union and nation obligation in 2010, the financial support to the nations has been fluctuating. During 2013, the University did not financially support the nations at all. In December, the University signed an agreement with Kuratorskollegiet. An agreement that will give the nations 25 SEK for every full-time student during the course of the year.
Alcohol sales main source of income
Currently, the nations arrange approximately three times more non-alcoholic activities than arrangements including any alcohol sales. At the same time, one of the main sources of income happens to be the alcohol sales. It is crucially important for the nations in order to be able to perform other activities – which, after all, makes the bigger events revolve around serving alcohol.
“The support is a targeting effort aiming to make the nations shift focus from their financially beneficial pub and club events. Instead the nations are given incentives in order to develop these study-social operations,” says Tim Ekberg, executive planner at the university.
In what way does the University want the nations to develop these operations?
“The nations haven’t been given any formal guidelines on specific operations,” he says.
Limited nation economy transparency
The financial support specifically applies to 2014. However, the agreement reached between the University and Kuratorskollegiet on nation support may be extended. A condition the nations have to submit to is using the money for its intended purpose. Currently, the University is not able to directly access the nations’ economy. Therefore, the University cannot guarantee that the financial support will be used correctly. Not until the end of the year will the University be able to be notified whether the money has been used correctly. Then the nations will be required to present their financial statements to Kuratorskollegiet to show what the money has been spent on.
“The university has not discussed what kind of sanctions will be applicable in case the nations commit any violations. What is principally reduced in the following years if the nations fail to comply, is the University’s will to pay,” says Tim Ekberg.
Nations positive
The money will be paid to Kuratorskollegiet. After that it is up to them to allocate money to the nations according to the size of the nations’ member bases. Even Smålands Nation, which is not included in Kuratorskollegiet, has been granted financial support.
“Naturally, the nations are very positive to the Univeristy offering their financial support. It confirms the fact that the University considers the operations of the nations important,” says Oskar Palmrot, president of Kuratorskolliegiet
What does the support mean to the nations?
“It means more light can be shed on non-alcoholic activities without them having to be motivated by increased alcohol sales,” he says.
Text: Erling Borén
Translation: Maximilian Aleman-Tennell
