Vice-Chancellor Per Eriksson wants to contribute to making the nations less dependent on their sales of alcohol. Economic support from the university can become a reality, but not without counter demands.
During Vice-Chancellor Per Eriksson’s speech at Snapphanebalen a few weeks ago he stated that he wanted to support the nations economically. Now the matter will be addressed at The University Board meeting in April or June. According to the Vice-Chancellor the nations have been neglected when it comes to economic support from the university.
“We have considered supporting the nations before, but we didn’t consider them to be of immediate interest for economic support”, says Per Eriksson.
During several meetings, including a lunch at Malmö Nation, Per Eriksson has discussed the issue with representatives from the nations and met the presiding committee for the nation cooperation Kuratorskollegiet. According to the Vice-Chancellor the nations think that they have become too dependent on the selling of alcohol in order to secure their economy. For that reason they are arguing that economic support would mean a lot. The money from the university would create more room for different activities.
Neither the Vice-Chancellor nor the Head of planning Tim Ekberg know how much money the nations would receive. However, Tim Ekberg believes that the amount will be about “half a fifty” per member. Based on the autumn’s membership numbers the Wermland’s nation, for example, would receive about 20 250 kronor while the Lunds nation would get 89 625 kronor. In order for this money not to be used improperly, the university will impose counter demands on the nations.
“We can’t give them a couple hundred thousands which they would then use for hosting parties. We have to make sure that the money is spent on social benefits and activities for the students”, says Tim Ekberg.
According to Per Eriksson the thought behind the economic support is to make it permanent. But only time could tell how that would affect the nations in the long run. The purpose for the money, however, is not to change the student life.
“Vice-Chancellor and the Board has no ambition to attempt changing the nations and their activities. Taking this money will be up to every different nation to decide. But the Vice-Chancellor would like to participate and support a development in which the nations become less dependent on their alcohol sales”, says Tim Ekberg.
But how will this support affect the nation life?
Magdalena Stadler, head of the nation cooperation Kuratorskollegiet, doesn’t want to speculate what the effects could be.
On the other hand, Magnus Alkestrand, nation curator at Kristianstads nation takes a positive stance to the possibility of economic support.
“It depends on how substantial the support will be. But it could mean that we could give even more to our members. We could lower the price on food and offer even more activities like sport, culture and music arrangements. Furthermore we could restore our property in order to make it even nicer for our members to spend time there.”
Per Eriksson hopes that the economic support will take effect starting from the 1st of July of this year.
translation: Rasmus Edlund
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