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1st April joke

All distance meetings the Student Union (ÅAS) participates in will be powered by green electricity. The electricity will be produced by the Board members, while they are participating in the distance meetings. Every conference room in both ÅAS buildings, Kåren in Åbo and Havtornen in Vasa, have gotten their own exercise bikes connected to a generator. The generator then powers up a laptop, where the meeting can be held.  

After only a week’s usage, ÅAS’ carbon footprint has already been reduced drastically as a result of applying the principle of sustainable conference rooms. An unexpected consequence is that the meetings have become shorter, which has made the Board’s time management more effective. The Board has also improved their health, thereby coping with more advocacy work.  

–Big societal changes are needed to minimize the effects of global warming, but it still feels good to contribute a bit on the way. Exercise and advocacy work are two sides of the same coin, ponders Board Member Emma Andersson.  

While the Board members use exercise bikes, the ÅAS staff prefer the rowing machine to make the Fairtrade coffee. According to Secretary General Veera Julin, the employees are in an even better mood on Monday mornings after getting oxygen flowing in their brains and enjoying the sought-after coffee. 2 

–During the pandemic, I have been working in sportswear anyways. Therefore, I will happily leave office attire for good and invest in well-being through green muscle-electricity, says Students’ Rights Expert Petra Lindblad. 

Do you feel that the pandemic has derailed your studies? Have you been wondering how you will find places on campus? Are you unsure of who to turn to? We want to help and give you a Restart!

On Monday 11 April and Tuesday 12 April we will arrange different kinds of pop-ups, information sessions and other program in both Åbo and Vasa. Come and refresh your memory and meet fellow students. All students at Åbo Akademi University are welcome! The Facebook event can be found here.

(The program below will be updated regularly, so stay tuned.)

Program in Vasa (in the Foajé)

Monday 11 April

  • The Student Union of ÅAU: pop-up
  • Nystart from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • ÅAU Sport from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Project Liv from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Campus Crawl from 10 a.m. to 2.pm.
  • Sub-association fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Foajé and Akademisalen in Academill

Tuesday 12 April

  • The Student Union of ÅAU’s Pop-up
  • Arbetsforum (the work forum) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • The library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Presentation from 10.15 a.m. to 10.45 a.m. (in English and in Swedish)
  • Campus Crawl: the whole day
  • Ärligt talat from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Program in Åbo

Monday 11 April (Pop-ups in Arken and evening program at Kåren)

  • The Student Union of ÅAU’s Pop-up
  • Campussport from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
  • Study advisors from FHPT and FNT from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • The Finnish Student Health Service from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Study psychologist from 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
  • Finnish Student Health Service from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • The rector Mikael Lindfelt offers cake in Arken at noon
  • Campus Crawl: The whole day
  • Sub-associations’ fair from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kåren (Tavastgatan 22)
  • Axelbandet’s music- and pub evening from 7.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. in Kåren’s ball room (Tavastgatan 22, the second floor)

Tuesday 12 April (Pop-ups and presentations in ASA)

  • The Student Union of ÅAU: pop-up
  • Study advisors from FSE from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Kårkaféerna serve and Nystart offer free smoothies in the ASA’s main assembly at noon
  • ASA-library: The library – much more than text books!
    • Presentation in Swedish from noon to 12.25 p.m. in ASA, Stora Auditoriet (the big auditorium)
    • Five minute break
    • Presentation in English from 12.30 p.m. to 12.55 p.m. in ASA, Stora Auditoriet (the big auditorium)
    • 20 minute break
    • Tour in the ASA library at 1.15 p.m. in both Swedish and in English
  • Nystart from 10.30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Arbetsforum (Career Services) from 10 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Campus Crawl: The whole day

The maps for Campus Crawl 

The maps can be found below as .pdf files. You can also get a map at The Student Union’s pop-up.

Åbo

Vasa

The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University has started a fundraiser to the Disaster Relief Fund

With your help Red Cross helps victims of natural disasters and war all over the world. In Finland, aid is offered to victims of sudden accidents, such as fires. Donations also maintain the preparedness of volunteers to act in crisis situations. You are protecting the most vulnerable.

You don’t need a lot of money to donate: 1 euro helps! Thank you!

Link to the Student Union’s fundraiser

The Student Union traditionally hands out roses to a few in the Åbo Akademi Univeristy’s staff that have a high standard on their education or have otherwise inspired and motivated the students in their studies.

Please, nominate the person that you think deserves a rose! The deadline is 31 March. To nominate you simply fill in the form in the link.

The Student Union of ÅAU (ÅAS) has given their view on ÅAU’s proposed property regulation plan

ÅAS especially highlights the following

  • Students want to be physically on campus, flexibility in the studies does not mean that everything is done remotely.
  • Club facilities and association spaces are vital for the student community.
  • The communication about facilities and their accessibility must improve, all students should feel welcomed at campus.
  • The planning of new facilities needs to be done with students’ needs and opinions in mind.
  • The association spaces in the Geologicum building are appreciated, but do not replace the need for student spaces close to where students study, where they can take breaks during the day.
  • It is highly important to have student restaurants on campus, with enough capacity to meet the demand.

The statement on the proposed property regulation plan can be read in full in Swedish here [.pdf]. ÅAS continues the advocacy work regarding facilities alongside student representatives in ÅAU’s administration and student associations.

The Campus Chapel (Rehtorinpellonkatu 4, Åbo) is open for all students and personnel of Åbo universities and universities of applied sciences this week and next week. University Chaplain Mia or Tiina will be there every day for you. They are ready to talk with you or to just be silently supportive if you’d rather study or work there than for example at your flat. There’s also coffee or tea available for all.

Opening hours

  • Thurs 3 March from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Fri 4 March from noon to 3 p.m.
  • Tue 8 March from 9 a.m. to noon
  • Wed 9 March from 9 a.m. to noon
  • Thurs 10 March from 9 a.m. to noon

Get Together Evening for international students Sunday 6 March

You are most welcome to the Campus Chapel (Kampuskappeli) on Sunday 6 March from 5.30 p.m. to 8 p.m. University Chaplain Mia will bring some snacks and make coffee and tea. You are welcome to bring your own snacks, too.

The chapel has three rather comfortable sofas, plenty of chairs and some less comfortable bean bags, and is a cozy space to spend an evening talking and just hanging around. Mia will bring some board games with her, too. The point of the evening is to get to know each other and to be of support to one another.

The address of Campus Chapel is Rehtorinpellonkatu 4 and it is the low building between Student Houses B and C on the other side of the street from the Turku School of Economics.

Contact

If you have any questions you can contact

Mia Pusa
University Chaplain
mia.pusa@evl.fi
tel. 040 341 7296

Instagram: @turun_oppilaitospapit (link) and @studentprastmia (link)

Facebook: Turunoppilaitospapit (link)

Since last week we have read shocking news from Ukraine. The Student Union of ÅAU strongly condemns Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

The Student Union discusses with Åbo Akademi University and National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) about the situation and is considering possible forms of support for students affected by the crisis. We are looking into the possibility within our university to start a Student at risk-scholarship program, to enable further studies for the students fleeing war and persecution.

In the midst of a crisis that affects us all, we must remember that the conflict does not justify Russophobia. The Student Union of ÅAU does not accept any kind of racism in the university community and especially now in the midst of the crisis we should focus on strengthening our community instead of allowing hatred.

It is normal for the current world situation to cause concern and anxiety. However, you don’t have to be left alone with these feelings. The Student Union of ÅAU has compiled a blog post with links to various support services.

The war between Russia and Ukraine can raise concerns, anxiety and fear. If you feel you need to talk to someone, you can contact:

MIELI rf’s Crisis Helpline

09 2525 0113 and on WhatsApp on 040 195 8202

The Crisis Helpline allows you to discuss your thoughts, feelings and situation in life with a crisis worker or a trained volunteer. You can make the call anonymously and confidentially. If the line is busy, we recommend calling again after a few minutes. Your phone operator will charge a fee based on your telephone subscription (local network rate or mobile charge). MIELI does not charge for the call.

The Helpline is open

Mon and Tues 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Wed 1 p.m.–4 p.m. and 5 p.m.–9 p.m.
Thurs 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Fri 9 a.m.–1 p.m. on 09 2525 0112

MIELI rf’s SOS Crisis Centre

SOS Crisis Centre offers short term crisis counselling and guidance in crisis situations for anyone living in Finland. The counselling is cost free and anonymous if needed. No referral is needed to book an appointment, your own experience of crisis is enough.

Booking and inquiries
Call: 09 4135 0510
Open on Mon–Thurs 9 a.m. – noon and 1 p.m.–3 p.m.,
Fridays 9 a.m. – noon
sos-keskus@mieli.fi

Other channels to get help

The traditional Shrove Tuesday event Fastlaskiainen is an event where student associations show off the sleds they have built. This year’s Fastlaskiainen in Åbo happens 1 March at 4 p.m. and in Vasa 8 March at 4 p.m. via Zoom.

The associations have built their incredible sleds and filmed their sled rides. It is then up to the audience to help decide this year’s greatest sled! During the event, we will hold a quiz with amazing prizes, you do not want to miss this!

Register for the event in Åbo or in Vasa and you will get the Zoom link to your e-mail closer to the event. If you are a Facebook member the information and the registration links can be found in the Facebook events

The Facebook event for Fastlaskiainen in Åbo.

The Facebook-event for Fastlaskiainen in Vasa.

The Student Union of ÅAU celebrated its 103rd birthday

The annuall ball of the Student Union of ÅAU will be held in online and hopefully in the autumn 2022 we will have the opporturnity to finally organise a big annuall ball where we can celebrate together! On 18 February, on Count Per Brahe’s birthday, the Student Union’s Chair of the Board Veera Granroth and Secretary General Jasmin Öberg gave the Count Student Union’s greetings at his statue in Åbo.

Non scholae, sed vitae discimus – ”We do not learn for school, but for life”

In her speech to Per Brahe, the Chair of the Board Granroth talked about the student life and traditions which the new students haven’t been able to experience in two years. She concluded her speech by thanking the student associations who have done their best in trying to keep the student life and traditions alive with their creativeness in organising events.

Scholarships and awards

Senator Julius Nummelin’s political science award for the best master’s thesis of the Faculty of Political Science

This year the Senator Julius Nummelin’s political science award was given to the following people:

Anna Lillkung for their master’s thesis Men’s parties in gender equal havens – The gender-representation gap in the Nordic populist radical right parties

Jenna Hoffrén for their master’s thesis Påverkar politiskt förtroende attityderna till invandring? Empirisk analys av finländska data från European Social Study

Michelle Sand for their master’s thesis New Public Management inom säkerhetspolitiken: En studie om ansvarstagande i privatisering av fred

Minna Hellström for their master’s thesis Den lokala kontextens inverkan på kommunala folkomröstningars vara eller icke vara. En tvärsnittsstudie av 2000-talets kommunreformer i Finland och Norge

Award of Companionship

The committee decided to give the Jaeger-Captain Paul Wallenius’ Award of Companionship to Malena Frankenhaeuser (Vasa) and Joakim Stewen (Åbo).

Styrelsenål award pin

128. Sandra Häggkvist
129. Emma Andersson
130. Esther Djupsund
131. Rudolf Tommos
132. Jonatan Wikström
133. Laura-Eliisa Leino
134. Axel Pakarinen
135. Rebecca Bergholm
136. Erik Östman
137. Adam Lahtinen
138. Lina Sjöskog
139. Johnny Nykvist
140. Rasmus Kupi

Styrelselyra award pin

203. Veera Granroth

Brahevingarna award pin

593. Susanna Häyry
594. Oscar Nyman
595. Jasmin Öberg
596. Niklas Grönholm
597. Tobias Ahlbäck
598. Joonas Karlsson

Brahevingarna med lyra award pin

133. Ulf Långbacka