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Joona Orpana becomes the former of the Board of AYY and Ilkka Särkiö is elected as the Chair of the Council

BULLETIN
7.11.2016
For immediate publication

Joona Orpana (on the right) becomes the former of the Board of AYY and Ilkka Särkiö is elected as the Chair of the Council.
Joona Orpana (on the right) becomes the former of the Board of AYY and Ilkka Särkiö is elected as the Chair of the Council.

The Council of the Aalto University Student Union (AYY) elected the former of the Board and the Chair of the Council for the 2017 year in its meeting on Friday, 4.11.

Joona Orpana, a fourth-year accounting student, was elected the former of the Board. This year, Orpana has worked on the Board of AYY with responsibilities including housing issues, planning of the student centre and the direction of the Student Union strategy work. Previously, he has served actively amongst the Aalto University economics students in roles including the college and cultural committees.

”The selection as the former brings with it one of the most challenging tasks that I’ve ever set out on – it’s just great! Under my lead, the Board of the Student Union would aim for large but realistic objectives. We have a lot to do, for example to change images, so that everyone will be able to feel that the Student Union is theirs,” ponders Orpana. ”I need enthusiastic Board members to help me, who solve problems by different methods, in a relaxed but serious way. Apply to join! I guarantee that this challenge will reward everyone who approaches it without fear.”

The former of the Board will make a proposal regarding the Board of the Student Union for next year to the Council, who will select the new Board in their meeting on Thursday, 24.11.2016.

Ilkka Särkiö, a student of operations research, was elected the Chair of the Council. This year, he has been responsible for corporate cooperation and association matters on the board of AYY.

”Next year, I’ll develop the possibilities of the Council to have influence together with the people of the Council and the central office, as well as making sure that the voting percentage of the Council elections rises. The flow of information between the Council and the Board and different forms of operation also need looking at, and indeed we’ll try out new communications channels, for example, as well as committee work and question sessions between the Council and the Board,” promises Särkiö. ”As the Chair, I’ll make sure that the various voices of our community are heard equally when discussing Aalto identity, the AYY brand or the student centre, for example. I know that through good cooperation, we’ll get even more out of this community next year.”

AYY, the Student Union of Aalto University, is a service and advocacy organisation of 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. 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.

Further information:
Joona Orpana, the former of the Board 2017, joona.orpana@ayy.fi, 040 755 9071
Ilkka Särkiö, the Chair of the Council 2017, ilkka.sarkio@ayy.fi, 050 520 9424
General Secretary Niko Ferm, niko.ferm@ayy.fi, 050 520 9415

Call for applications for student representatives in the administration of Aalto University

The Aalto University Student Union has decided on 7 Nov 2016 to open the call for applications for student representatives in the administration of Aalto University to the joint administrative bodies and the working groups of Aalto University for the year of 2017. Students of Aalto University can apply for the position of the student representative in administration.

The application period will begin on 7 Nov 2016 at 12 a.m. and end on 4 Dec 2016 at 23.59 p.m. by which the applications must be delivered. The application is completed electronically. The electronic application forms are available at the website https://www.halloped.fi/fi . The instructions for applying are available at the recruitment website for the volunteers at Aalto University at /en/student-union/student-advocacy/student-representatives/ .

Information on the names of the applicants and their applications is disclosed to the special status associations of the Aalto University Student Union for providing recommendations in the selection of student representatives in the administration of the university represented by the associations.

The Student Union wishes that the applicants also include international degree students as well as representatives of both genders and various schools. The working language in the bodies of University is Finnish unless otherwise stated in the description of the body.

The Student Union organizes training for new representatives of every school on Jan 2017.

The Board of the Aalto University Student Union will appoint the student representatives to the administration at its meeting on 16 Dec 2016.

 

In Otaniemi, 7 Nov 2016

 

 

Susanna Koistinen

Specialist, Academic Affairs

 

Further information: /en/student-union/student-advocacy/student-representatives/

Susanna Koistinen

Specialist, Academic Affairs

susanna.koistinen@ayy.fi, +358 50 520 9438

Association newsletter for the week 45/2016

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 association newsletter for the week 45/2016.

Upcoming events and important dates and events for associations
8.12.: AYY Association Training

Content of the newsletter
1. A recap of the usage terms of AYY’s one-off rental premises

1. A recap of the usage terms of AYY’s one-off rental premises

During the autumn, it has increasingly begun to look as if people have concentrated in the premises on having fun. That’s good; the study years are a unique time and they should be enjoyed!

However, it would be good to remind oneself of certain basic issues, so that the traces of the celebrations don’t spoil the pleasure of other users of the premises at their own event, and so that the premises stay in good condition for coming student generations too. Here’s a summary of the key points:

1. The rental terms have to be accepted every time that a booking is made by ticking the section “I accept the rental terms” in conjunction with the booking separately. Below this, there is also the section “Read the rental terms here”. In the rental terms themselves, there are parts stating the tasks of the person in charge, other usage instructions, which can be found on the web pages of AYY, and sanctions in the event that terms have been broken. No separate rental contract is made any more for premises, but instead it’s stated in the rental terms that “The rental contract comes into being upon acceptance of these usage terms with their appendices and upon receipt of the key”. In other words, always familiarise yourself with the text in small print too!

2. Nothing much can go wrong if the usage regulations for the rental premises of AYY are complied with. If rental terms and usage regulations are not complied with, this will result in a sanction, the varying sizes of which can be seen in conjunction with the usage regulations.

In usage of the premises, taking the times of use on board seems to particularly cause the most intentional or accidental misunderstandings, so let’s recap them once more too:

3. The time of use of any premises is defined separately and times of use can be found not only on AYY’s web pages, but also from the TILA system by clicking the name of any premises. Using the premises at other times without AYY’s permission is forbidden and punishable with sanctions. If one wishes to use any premises at times other than the ones stated, this must be requested separately and permission must be obtained from AYY, in the case of both morning and night-time use.

The rule of thumb is easy to remember: the time of use of any one-off rental premises in a residential building ends at the very latest by 11 pm. Longer usage times that differ from these can only be found in three party premises (the premises of OK20, Smökki and Rantasauna) and in guest cabins. In addition, for the moment the usage time of Gorsu is from 4 pm to 3 am, but because there have been an increasing number of warnings about the noise carrying across to flats from the premises, it’s quite possible that its usage time will also end at 11 pm if the disturbances continue.

4. In conjunction with the usage regulations, there is also a cross-reference to the regulations of the Teekkari Village, and those should therefore also be taken on board. With regard to them, I will particularly highlight the reference to night-time peace in Section 4:

”On weekdays from 11 pm to 7 am and on weekends from 12 midnight to 9 am, singing, playing of music, use of loud TVs, radios, stereos and equivalent things, and any other kind of causing of noise, is forbidden, not including a teekkari hymn that is performed in an orthodox manner. If the case is one of a haphazard disturbance which cannot be avoided, agreement about the matter must be reached sufficiently early with the residents who would be affected by the disturbance.”

Please note that this Section also applies in the case that the user has been granted permission for night-time use. Therefore, authorised continued use of the premises into the early hours does not grant permission for fooling around, making noise and other actions that disturb residents.

To finish up, here’s still a reminder about returning the keys of the premises and the cancellation of premises:

5. Remember to cancel premises that are not required as soon as the need for them is no longer there: however, at least 14 days before the date of use of the premises.

6. Also remember to return the keys of the premises by 12 noon on the next working day to the service point: so, in the case of weekend bookings, by Monday the following week at the latest. Missing keys cause additional work for the service point. If keys are not returned, not only will you be charged for the costs of having new keys, but also for reserialisation of locks, so be careful with keys.

7. Absolute huge piles of lost property have come to the office of AYY during the autumn from different events, and because we don’t have at all sufficient resources to deal with them, we have to dispose of objects on a regular basis. In addition, things have also been stolen in Otaniemi, for example during sauna sessions, so you should also keep in mind in that sense that no undesired guests come to events. Look after your things at events!

To recap: read the rental terms and usage regulations of the premises and the regulations of the Teekkari Village. Respect the times of use of the premises. Remember to cancel premises on time. Remember to return the keys on time. Take care of your possessions during events. Remember to have fun, but don’t disturb residents with your fun.

If you have any questions about the issue or development suggestions, contact AYY’s premises sector (tilat@ayy.fi).

 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO INCLUDE YOUR OWN NEWS IN THIS NEWSLETTER?

Please send a brief text by Wednesday, 10am, to the address tiedotteet@ayy.fi. The news will be translated so you can submit your text in one language. The content of the newsletter is ultimately edited by AYY’s Organisational Affairs and Communications Specialist Ahto Harmo (ahto.harmo@ayy.fi, tel: 050 520 9442).

Call for applications for the Degree Committee

Call for applications for student representatives in the administration of Aalto University

The Aalto University Student Union has decided on 9 Nov 2015 to open the call for applications for student representatives in the administration of Aalto University degree committee for the year of 2016. Students of Aalto University can apply for the position of the student representative in administration.

The application period will begin on 1 Nov 2016 at 12 a.m. and end on 14 Nov 2016 at 23.59 p.m. by which the applications must be delivered. The application is completed electronically. The electronic application forms are available at the website https://www.halloped.fi/fi . The instructions for applying are available at the recruitment website for the volunteers at Aalto University at /en/student-union/student-advocacy/student-representatives/ .

Information on the names of the applicants and their applications is disclosed to the special status associations of the Aalto University Student Union for providing recommendations in the selection of student representatives in the administration of the university represented by the associations.

The Student Union wishes that the applicants also include international degree students as well as representatives of both genders and various schools. The working language in the bodies of University is Finnish unless otherwise stated in the description of the body.

The Student Union organizes training for new representatives of every school on Jan 2017.

In Otaniemi, 1 Nov 2016

 

Susanna Koistinen

Specialist, Academic Affairs

 

Further information: /en/student-union/student-advocacy/student-representatives/

Susanna Koistinen

Specialist, Academic Affairs

susanna.koistinen@ayy.fi, +358 50 520 9438

Tempaus2016: The Tempaus participants will go into comprehensive schools from Utö to Utsjoki on Monday and Tuesday

Bulletin
26.10.2016
For immediate publication

Tempaus2016 is a student project which will bring fun, brainteasers and the joy of learning to school benches on Monday, 31.10. and Tuesday, 1.11. Nearly 1,500 schools around Finland will be involved. The patron of Tempaus is the President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö. Through Tempaus, in addition to bringing fun and the joy of learning, the aim is also to awaken national discussion about the importance of comprehensive schooling and investing in it, because the learning success and study motivation of pupils have been on the decline in recent years.

“Finnish comprehensive schooling has always been top-notch. However, work has to be done to guarantee quality. With the Tempaus drive, we want to show our own support and investment for comprehensive schooling,” says Niko Ferm, who is coordinating the drive.

More than 1,400 students are setting out on the drive around Finland. They will go around the comprehensive schools involved over the course of two days. Six different programme packages in all have been designed for the schools, which will put the ideas of the new teaching plan into practice in the schools and seeks to motivate pupils to learn. Alone or in a group, the Tempaus participant will realise a programme whole at the school, lasting the length of a lesson, together with some class in the school. Schools have been able to express a wish as to which programme package will be carried out for the class.

“The new teaching plan brings a lot of good things with it. It emphasises the role of the pupil as an active agent and learning as interaction. With our six programme packages, we want to enthuse comprehensive school pupils and be involved in constructing this new learning community!,” says Venla Keskinen, whose team’s task has been to develop the programme packages.

The most popular of the programmes has been the mathematics programme. It’s a puzzle pack for everyday life, in which the pupils get for the duration of a lesson to delve into the world of mathematics in the form of a card game. The topic areas of the task are both logical deduction and everyday problems, such as multiplying recipes or, for younger pupils, working out change. In other programmes, amongst other things, the pupils get to set up their own company or, for example, design a logo for the school.

Tempaus will conclude in the Tempaus Party, which will be held in Kansalaistori Square on Wednesday, 2.11. from 12 noon. The party will bring together advocates of schooling and panelists. In addition, well-known artists will be there to lend their support to the important issue. Furthermore, a Tempaus publication has been compiled from the topics of Tempaus and speeches on the state of Finnish comprehensive schooling. The publication can be read online and you can get a print copy  at the Tempaus Party.

Further information:
The person responsible for the communications of the Tempaus section Noora Vänttinen, noora.vanttinen@aalto.fi, 040 7316120
The person responsible for the programme packages Venla Keskinen, venla.keskinen@aalto.fi, 0400 496 989

Tempaus2016 in the social media

  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tempaus2016
  • Instagram: @Tempaus2016
  • Twitter: @Tempaus2016
  • Hashtags: #Tempaus2016, #aarre
  • tempaus.fi

Disruptive Behaviour and Safety at Student Events

Dear association representatives,

AYY has been informed of an incident of harassment that occurred at a freshman event in Otaniemi and violated personal untouchability, which fortunately did not threaten the well-being of the persons. People from outside the student community sought by force to take part in the event held in the premises of AYY and harassed participants. The organisers of the event expelled the persons from the event. According to information received by the Student Union, the same people also tried to enter another event at a later time, however without getting to take part.

Everyone’s joint safety is an issue that cannot be compromised on in any situation and no-one’s personal untouchability can be threatened. However, if this occurs, all kinds of harassment or other threatening behaviour must be intervened in at once. This applies to both external people and to the members of the student community. If an event is only meant to be open to students, persons wanting to attend can, for example, be required to present a valid student card. Also, whether they are closed or open to everyone, no persons should be admitted to events if their behaviour worries or threatens other participants.

The situation is always serious if it causes anxiety or someone feels unsafe. If a situation of danger occurs, it’s important to know how to act. Persons who are threatening or violate the personal untouchability of someone must be expelled from the event. In threatening situations, the event must be suspended at once. The event organisers have to make sure that appropriate preparations have been made for situations of danger. This means that at least fire safety, access control and threatening behaviour have to be prepared for. There is always cause to read the usage instructions of the premises, even if the location is familiar. Exit routes must be kept clear, passage signs openly visible and its must be checked that extinguishing devices and first-aid equipment are in place. The best way to pre-empt disruptive behaviour is

  • to agree on who is responsible for access control,
  • to make sure that the event is not allowed to expand in an uncontrolled way,
  • to agree on rules for threatening situations,
  • and to minimise easy risks (e.g. scissors, tools, cooking utensils etc. out of sight)

AYY takes all cases of harassment and dangerous situations occurring at student functions seriously. Suspected criminal incidents against the well-being of a person should always be reported to the police. In this way, we can show together that no kind of harassment or violence will be tolerated at functions of the Student Union and student associations.

In situations threatening the well-being of participants, the safety of the victims should always be ensured and the emergency centre should be called. We hope that there would never be any hesitation about reporting dangerous situations without delay to the emergency centre. We also hope that all dangerous situations and incidents of harassment would be reported to AYY. In this way, we can prevent the possible spreading of problems by working together.

Also read AYY’s and the Aalto Chaplains instructions on after-management of crisis situations in student associations. The instructions include advice on meeting a person who is in shock and arranging follow-up assistance, and their purpose is to provide an action model and contact details in case of those kinds of sudden, shocking situations, crises. The link to the instructions: https://inside.ayy.fi/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=12615842

Your contact persons at AYY:

Association-specific advice
Ahto Harmo, Specialist, Organizational Affairs and Communications, ahto.harmo@ayy.fi, 050 520 9442.

Harassment contact persons
You can contact the harassment contact persons if you have experienced or observed harassment in the student community. All contact is confidential. The harassment contact people offer advice and help through discussion, and also help in clearing up the harassment situation if necessary

Lauri Jurvanen, Specialist, Social Affairs, Harassment contact person, lauri.jurvanen@ayy.fi or  hairinta-mies@ayy.fi , 050 520 9418.

Elli-Noora Kaurila, Specialist, Student Advocacy, Harassment contact person, elli-noora.kaurila@ayy.fi or hairinta-nainen@ayy.fi, 050 520 9445.