The rector Professor Dr. Winfried Lieber emphasized before the information event that he was for the reintroduction of the Student Representative Organization and would support it: “Being involved with a student parliament is coupled with a commitment to civic responsibility” he said. During his studies in Rheinland-Pfalz he worked in the students' organization AStA.

Member of the Regional Parliament reports on his experiences

On Tuesday, 19^th March, Mr. Alexander Salomon, a member of the Regional Parliament, the contact person for students’ interests and a member of the Green Regional Parliament political group, informed the Offenburg and Gengenbach students about the Student Representative Organization. He also reported about his former work as a financial agent of the Student Representative Organization at the Mainz University: “Financial autonomy is important – in that way you are not dependent on the goodwill of the rectorate” he explained. Mr. Jörg Willburger from the AStA at the University of Applied Sciences Offenburg, is responsible for the introduction of the Student Representative Organization. He introduced the Articles of Association which the AStA at the University Offenburg had drawn up, at the information event. The voting by ballot for these is next Tuesday, 26^th March.  

Few students show interest

„We hope there will be a large number of students voting, unfortunately in the last years there were few voters” said Jörg Willberger. A glance at the empty rows of the lecture hall B.012 confirmed Mr. Willburger’s experience: only a few students took advantage of the opportunity to inform themselves of the introduction of the Student Representative Organization. “We are aware that many students don’t see the University as a part of their surroundings anymore – especially as there are only six semesters for studying now”, Alexander Salomon tried to explain the lack of interest. “In spite of that, I believe that the Student Representative Organization will be a successful model”, he said. “Student Representative Organization” means that the students, as an independent committee compose their own Articles of Association. These Articles only become valid when at least half of the students present at the ballot, vote for the Articles of Association.

Financing from a contribution each semester

The Student Representative Organization is financed by a contribution which all students pay each semester with their normal semester fee. The contribution for each student will amount to €10 per semester. ”Our goal is to improve the advisory and sport possibilities for the students – legal advice could also come in question.” said Julia Migenda the AStA representative. Financial autonomy means that the Student Representative Organization will finance itself in the future and will not be financed by the University anymore. “Students loans in the case of an emergency or negotiations about semester tickets could then be discussed”, the Regional Parliament member Alexander Salomon explained. “ The Student Representative Organization should be able to give its view in a better way in future” he added. At the end of the event Jörg Willburger appealed to the students to get involved more in the AStA.

Further information on the re-introduction of the Student Representative Organization at the University of Applied Sciences Offenburg is at <link http: asta.hs-offenburg.de verfasste-studierendenschaft>

asta.hs-offenburg.de/verfasste-studierendenschaft/

The ballot for the Articles of Association is on Tuesday 26^th March between 9.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. in the B building foyer, in Gengenbach the ballot takes place at the same time in the corridor of the first floor.