Student Union

30.11.2017

AYY selected the board for 2018 – Noora Vänttinen becomes the Chairperson

Aalto University Student Union

Press release 30.11.2017

For immediate release

The Council of Aalto University Student Union (AYY) selected the Board for the Student Union for the year 2018 in its meeting on Wednesday, the 29th of November. The Council chose Noora Vänttinen, Master’s student at the School of Electrical Engineering as the new Chair of Board. Vänttinen has worked in the AYY board in 2017, handling communications, the brand, museum and archives. Previously Vänttinen has worked with the Tempaus 2016 project, among others.

The other nine (9) members of the board are:

Tapio Hautamäki, SCI

Mikael Liimatainen, ELEC

Suvi Vendelin, ARTS

Emma Savela, ARTS

Lauri Seppäläinen, SCI

Noora Tanska, SCI

Hilja Korhonen, CHEM

Mikhael Koufos, BIZ

Julius Luukkanen, SCI

During the coming year, AYY will focus on issues such as ARTS students’ move to Otaniemi, planning of the new student centre, and the wellbeing of students. “It’s going to be quite a year full of cooperation that will build a basis for an even tighter Aalto community,” Vänttinen says.

The term of the Board will begin in January and last a calendar year. The new Board will organise itself in its first meeting.

The Student Union of Aalto University, AYY, is a service and advocacy organisation for around 15,000 students of Aalto University. AYY acts as the advocate of the interests of its members, particularly in education policy and study-social matters.

Further information:

Noora Vänttinen, hallituksen puheenjohtaja, noora.vanttinen@ayy.fi

20.11.2017

The effects of the general housing allowance on rental agreements

Housing, Press releases, Student Union, Tenants Leave a comment

The transition to general housing allowance has caused difficulties for students living together, since students living under joint lease agreements are interpreted by Kela as a single household. This means that students who live together apply for housing allowance together, and the allowance is determined by their total income. As a solution to the problem, many students have drafted separate lease agreements or changed to a main tenant/subtenant arrangement.

In the private rental market, lessors seldom agree to make separate contracts for tenants, since from the lessor’s point of view, it is simpler and safer for the whole group to jointly pay for the rent. For AYY, making separate contracts is challenging, as it would practically require installing locks on the doors of bedrooms of two-room apartments and larger apartments, in which case living would resemble that in a shared apartment. The problem with this procedure is the gradual transformation of 2-room apartments (and larger apartments) into shared apartments. When a tenant would move out of an apartment shared by friends, AYY would pick the first person in the shared apartment queue to replace them if the conditions for a friend swap are not fulfilled. Consequently, apartments used as friend apartments would gradually become regular shared apartments. As a mode of living, shared apartments are not the preferred choice for many tenants, and they are seen rather as the last option and as a temporary housing solution. “Shared-apartmentization” would also be a challenge for AYY as a lessor, as tenant turnover is high in shared apartments, and each moving to and from an apartment causes wear and tear on the apartment, and the failure to maintain common facilities is a very common problem in shared apartments that keeps the housing office and the real estate sector busy. AYY will modify its housing stock through renovations so that shared apartments will be replaced by, for example, studio rooms in shared apartments, so that the apartments can better match the housing needs of students.

With AYY, applying for an apartment is based on a transparent queuing system governed by the housing regulation. The queuing system has been created so that there are no unjustified shortcuts; for example, a person who is not already a principal tenant in an AYY apartment cannot be suggested as a candidate for a friend swap. As a result, the transformation of apartments with two or more rooms into shared apartments cannot be prevented within the framework of the current regulation by allowing all friends to move to an apartment in a friend swap. All applicants for AYY’s apartments are equal, and the housing queue cannot be ignored just because a room would become free in an apartment shared by friends and the applicant knows one of the tenants.

According to the housing regulation, AYY’s two-bedroom and larger flats cannot be applied for alone. This means that AYY cannot, under the present regulation, allow a main tenant/subtenant arrangement to be carried out, where a two-room or bigger apartment would be leased to one of the principal tenants, who could then take anybody as their subtenant. In addition, living in AYY’s apartments has been considered as a member benefit, meaning that AYY has sought to provide housing to as many AYY members as possible. In a main tenant/subtenant arrangement, AYY cannot control whom the apartments are sub-leased to, meaning that the proportion of AYY’s tenants would likely decrease. Also, a main tenant/subtenant arrangement does not automatically guarantee that the tenants would form their own households according to KELA and thus be granted their own housing allowances.

AYY aims to make its friend and family apartment agreements more equal so that in the future, all residents of a friend apartment would be able to reside in the apartment for as long as at least one resident has a valid right of residence. Additionally, AYY is currently developing the possibility of seeking shared apartments together, allowing friends to live in the same apartment with separate leases. The housing regulation will also be reviewed and updated extensively next year, so changes in the subject matter are possible.

For further information, please contact Onni Lampi, Member of the Board (email: onni.lampi@ayy.fi, tel: 050 520 9444).

18.11.2017

AYY’s representative council Statement on Teekkarihymni

Statements and Contentions, Student Union Leave a comment

Statement
AYY’s representative council
For immediate release

In the fall of 2015, after the statement given by TEK’s teekkari committee, there was a lot of discussion at Otaniemi regarding whether the teekkarihymni should have its words revised. The discussions did not lead to a formal stance on the issue, but it was seen best to let everyone sing the song in the manner of their choosing.

At the guilds, the singing of the teekkarihymni started its shift a few years ago, when the new first year students have been taught the song with the new words. Several different ways to sing the song have already begun to emerge. Some older students might sing it with the old words out of habit, naturally.

The teekkarihymni was worded most likely in the 19th century, when the word ”neekeri” was a common word to denote a person of a dark skin tone. The societal meaning of the word has shifted with the times, however, which forces pressure to change the song as well.

AYY does not condone racism or racist activities in any form. The teekkarihymni is not meant to be racist, and it should not encourage the people singing it to act in a racist manner. The teekkarihymni is clearly a product of its time, and like all cultures, the teekkari culture develops and shifts with the times. The original words should not be erased from history altogether.

The view of the AYY Representative Council is that the words of the teekkarihymni do not reflect the values of the Student Union in their current format. The council recommends that associations in the Aalto community and other communities will take note of this in their activities. In addition, the council recommends that singers of the song will replace the word ”neekeri” with a different word of their choosing in the future.

The Representative Council had the statement in its agenda in meeting 11/2016 on the 4th of November 2016

More information:

Pietu Roisko, Chairperson of the AYY Representative Council pietu.roisko@ayy.fi, 040 512 0386

17.11.2017

Association newsletter for the weeks 47/2017 and 48/2017

Student Union Leave a comment

If you want to receive AYY’s association newsletter to your e-mail, please subscribe at http://list.ayy.fi/mailman/listinfo/yhdistykset.

This is AYY’s asscociation newsletter for the week 47/2017

Sign up open for association training!
Training in Finnish: https://lomake.ayy.fi/yhdistykset/ilmoittautuminen-ayyn-yhdistyskoulutukseen-28-11-2017/
Training in English: https://lomake.ayy.fi/yhdistykset/ayys-association-training-in-english-dec-2017/

Upcoming events and important dates and events for associations

Nov 28^th AYY’s association training in Finnish, Design Factory: https://lomake.ayy.fi/yhdistykset/ilmoittautuminen-ayyn-yhdistyskoulutukseen-28-11-2017/
Dec 7^th AYY’s association training in English, AYY’s office: https://lomake.ayy.fi/yhdistykset/ayys-association-training-in-english-dec-2017/

Content of the newsletter

Sign up open for AYY’s association training in Finnish on 28^th of November
Sign up open for AYY’s association training in English on 7^th of December
Students’ Independence Day Procession
#LuovutusAalto vol. 2 still under way for November!

Sign up open for AYY’s association training in Finnish on 28^th of November

AYY’s association training in Finnish will be held at the Design Factory in Otaniemi on 28^th of November.

The program of the training consists of a joint part, where issues concerning all association operatives are looked at, and two group parts. The participants can choose which group to participate in according to their interests. The groups are divided according to the following issues: financial management, legal and regulative matters related to associations, communications, fundraising and corporate relations, advocacy work and leadership.

For the schedule and sign up, please visit: https://lomake.ayy.fi/yhdistykset/ilmoittautuminen-ayyn-yhdistyskoulutukseen-28-11-2017/

How to get to the Design Factory: https://designfactory.aalto.fi/contact/

Sign up open for AYY’s association training in English on 7^th of December

AYY’s association training in English will be held on 7th of December from 4 pm to 7 pm at AYY’s office (Otakaari 11, Espoo (upstairs)).

The training will include communications and the basics for association work, but you can also wish for specific topics.

The target group is English speaking association actives and the space is limited (approx. 20 persons), so please attend only if you are in the target group. Max. 4 persons per association.

If there are more than four persons in your association’s actives that are in the target group and they wish to participate, please contact the organizational affairs specialist Ahto Harmo (ahto.harmo at ayy.fi) and we will work something out.

You can sign up here: https://lomake.ayy.fi/yhdistykset/ayys-association-training-in-english-dec-2017/

Students’ Independence Day Procession

Students in the Helsinki capital region will celebrate Finnish independence in a traditional manner on the 6^th of December by holding a shared Independence Day procession. Everyone is welcome to join the procession. The organizers will provide participants with torches and lights, handed out at the start of the procession. Associations can take part in the procession with their own official flag.

Instructions and schedule for the event can be found at https://itsenaisyyspaiva.ayy.fi/juhlakulkue-2017/. The FB page for the event can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/124333588235604/.

As before, AYY will offer the following services to its members:

Flag taxi:

You must deliver your association’s flag to the service point (Otakaari 11) by Monday, the 4th of December 2017, by 16:00, AND the flag must be recorded in the delivery list. Make sure to record the flag in the list, because we will only take the flags with us that are found on the list. The flags will be returned to the same place, and they should be picked up by Friday, the 8th of December.

Carrying belts and blue and white herald ribbons:

The Student Union can borrow participants a limited number of carrying belts for flags and blue and white herald ribbons suitable for all flags. Reservations on a first-come, first-serve basis to the email address arkisto at ayy.fi. The items can be found near the flags at the place of assembly on the day of the event.

Flagbearers and heralds can leave their bags safely in the operations car for the procession. We will drive the car to the Senate Square. You can take your belongings with you when leaving your flag at the car for the return transport. Flagbearers and heralds should not have any bags with them in the procession. The fastest can also get a ride back to Otaniemi starting from 18:15.

#LuovutusAalto vol. 2 still under way for November!

Nearly a thousand voluntary blood donors are needed every weekday to make sure that about 50,000 seriously ill patients receive the treatment they need every year. That is why the Aalto University Student Union is once again challenging all associations active within AYY to donate blood for the common good!

The autumn LuovutusAalto challenge started on the 2^nd of October, and you can donate until the 30^th of November. Like in the spring, the associations that have donated the most blood, both quantitatively and in percentage terms in relation to their number of members, are awarded the use of one of AYY’s sauna facilities for one night, a diploma from the Finnish Red Cross – and of course glory and adoration! All donors also receive an overall patch from the Finnish Red Cross. In addition, groups that have donated at least 10 times during the year will receive a diploma and their names will be put up on the Blood Service website.

For more detailed participation instructions and registering your VeriRyhmä group, please visit: /en/blog/2017/10/19/luovutusaalto-vol-2/

Also join the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1932875113700076/

Associations registered so far in AYY’s system: Guild of the Cross, Forest Products Guild, Aalto Predators, Inkubio, Prosessiteekkarit, Guild of Automation and Systems Technology and Teekkarispeksi (Veijon Luovutus). The Guild of Electrical Engineering has also signed up through the Blood Service.

Take part in the competition and help others! J

For more information, please contact the Information Officer: katarina.vesikko at ayy.fi

DO YOU WANT YOUR OWN NEWS IN THIS NEWSLETTER?

Send your short text to us by Wednesday 10:00 AM to the address tiedotteet (a) ayy.fi. The news will be translated, so you can send them only in a single language if you wish.

The information in the newsletter is edited by the AYY Association and Communications Specialist, Ahto Harmo (ahto.harmo (a) ayy.fi, phone: 050 520 9442).

17.11.2017

AYY elected the Chair of the Representative Council and the Former of the Board for 2018

Press releases Leave a comment

Announcement
Aalto University Student Union
17.11.2017
For immediate publication

The Representative Council of the Aalto University Student Union (AYY) elected the Chair of the Representative Council and the Former of the Board for 2018 at its meeting on Wednesday, the 15^th of November 2017. The Chair of the Representative Council next year is Onni Lampi, and the new Former of the Board is Noora Vänttinen.

Lampi, the new Chair of the Representative Council, is a fifth-year student of Communications Engineering. In 2017, he worked as a member of the AYY Board, being responsible for housing and real estate issues. His work tasks included the development of real estate, changes in the property stock, and housing as a service and creator of communality. During his year as a member of the Board, Lampi’s biggest project has been the promotion of the Student Center and the facility program. Previously, Lampi has acted as a group Chair in the Representative Council, and he has also worked as Chief Editor of Radiodiodi and as the Tutor Boss of his guild.

”I feel fantastic, and I’m really eager to develop the Representative Council into a more discussion-oriented direction!” says Lampi. “My goal for the coming year is that the members of the Representative Council would see the meetings and other events as a valuable channel for influencing.”

Noora Vänttinen, Master’s student at the School of Electrical Engineering, was chosen as the Former of the Board. She also worked in the AYY Board in 2017, handling issues related to communications, the brand, museum and archives. Previously, Vänttinen has worked with the Tempaus 2016 project, among others.

”I really can’t describe my feelings right now. But now is not the time to take a holiday, since I’m faced with perhaps the hardest task of my entire career at the Aalto University: forming the Board. But I’m really looking forward to next week!” Vänttinen says. ”If this stage goes as expected, we can take important steps towards our shared vision next year: AYY – The best student’s life in the world.”

The Former of the Board makes a proposal to the Representative Council about the composition of the Board for the year 2018, and the Council elects the new Board at its meeting on the 29th of November 2017.

Joona Orpana, Chair of the AYY Board 2017, congratulates the newly elected Chair of the Representative Council and Former of the Board.

”Onni and Noora are real Aalto people. It has been an honor to follow them act as an inspiration for others and marvel their determined growth as genuine wielders of influence,” says Orpana and sets his eyes on the future: “I look forward with pride to the moment when they take the Student Union under their leadership and take us on a trip towards the best student’s life in the world. By the way, now is the time to apply or tell your friends to do so, because the positions for the Board and volunteers will be handed out soon!”

The Aalto University Student Union (AYY) is a service and advocate association for about 15 000 students of the Aalto University. AYY works as an advocate for its members, especially in matters of educational politics and social issues relating to studies. The Council is AYY’s highest decision-making body, which selects the Board of the Student Union and decides on the budget, amongst other things.

More information:

Noora Vänttinen, Former of the Board 2018, noora.vanttinen@ayy.fi, 040 731 6120
Onni Lampi, Chair of the Representative Council 2018, onni.lampi@ayy.fi,
Niko Ferm, Secretary General, niko.ferm@ayy.fi, 050 520 9415

9.11.2017

AYY is looking for an IT expert

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AYY is searching for a brisk and spontaneous person to act as an IT expert. The tasks of the IT expert include the maintenance and development of AYY’s IT environment. AYY has several systems that run on Python, Django, WordPress and Ruby on Rails platforms. Taking care of information security, fixing bugs and continuous development are the primary responsibilites of the IT expert. The role also entails other information technology tasks, upkeep of Windows systems and LAMP services, and acting as a superior to the resident IT support person.

The position is excellent for a student late in their studies or for a recently graduated professional who wants to develop their career in a young and dynamic work environment. The AYY staff shares a relaxed attitude and interest in student organization activities, so we hope that the applicant also has an interest in the field and can commit themselves to the role for a longer time. The IT team is small, so the IT expert needs to be proactive in their work and be able to finish projects on their own. We do not expect you to be the complete solution, however; rather the attitude and a will to learn new things are key factors! The work is supported by a Trinet team in charge of network and server infrastructure. The task is permanent and the working hours are flexible. However, we hope that you can work at least about 25 hours a week. The salary is based on the student union collective labor agreement, grade three.

AYY requires:

Higher education studies from a relevant field of expertise
Knowledge and understanding of programming through work experience, hobbies or subject organization activities
Linux administrator experience and knowledge of Linux, Apache, MySQL/MariaDB databases
Understanding of information security and information safety
Excellent interaction and teamwork skills, ability to see the big picture, and a will to learn new things.
Good skills in Finnish and English

Considered as a plus:

Project control in a digital environment.
Experience in work supervision
Knowledge of the university environment (university/student union)

AYY offers:

Long-term work contract with lots of opportunities for development
An expert team in a changing and enthusiastic work environment in a young-spirited organization
Option to apply for AYY housing

Sound like your thing? Send your application and CV, preferably in PDF, to https://atalent.fi/avoimet-tyopaikat/it-asiantuntija-3/ by Sunday, the 19^th of November 2017. Mention your preferred starting date and salary in your application. The application process is quick, and we will go through the applications already during the call for applications period. The first interviews will be held at the end of week 48, so ensure that you have time for an interview on that week.

Get to know AYY better here: / . More information on the task and recruitment process from Recruitment Manager Meeri Sarkkinen (+358 504350511, meeri.sarkkinen@atalent.fi) .

The Aalto University Student Union (AYY) is a service and advocate association for nearly 15 000 students of the Aalto University. AYY employs about 50 people and dozens of volunteers and associations work within its sphere of influence. AYY is a young and innovative player in the student union field, one where you can implement your own ideas and create something new. As a working environment, AYY is young and very flexible.