Student Democrats
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Student Democrats
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Edmond Bitay
#1
My favorite goal of Student Democrats is the one where the party
aims to establish a community of intellectually and
entrepreneurially oriented students. This fulfills two fundamental
criteria for any party that wishes to represent TiU students, that
of building a community and providing a vision we can work
towards. It is my conviction that in the unfolding economy those
individuals that can find creative solutions to complex problems
within their fields and across disciplines will be those that thrive.
We aim to nurture these individuals. This goal should be
represented by the student community at the highest level, in the
University Council, as well as by student associations and by
activities of our party which are independent of the University
Council. I believe that with creating such an environment we can
build a meaningful future, have fun while doing so, and solve the
challenges of our times. If you feel that we are on the same page
with this, consider becoming a member and voting for us.
Student Democrats
Position on list
Malte Böhm
#2
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My motivation to be part of the Student Democrats at Tilburg
University initially came from the lack of alternatives during
the university council elections every year in April. I
appreciated the work the student parties were doing however I
could not identify myself with their profile neither did I see a
vision for the campus and the student body as such. The Student
Democrats provide both: A more engaging and interactive
campus as well as the platforms that are necessary for
entrepreneurial and intellectual exchange outside the classroom.
The Student Democrats acknowledge the vast potentials that lay
within the current students and alumni of Tilburg University
and aims to bring them together with influential and innovative
minds from the region, the Netherlands and Europe as a whole.
Lastly and most importantly I care about democracy. The
Student Democrats are the only party on campus that recognizes
the undemocratic voting procedure at our university and wants
to change it. Voting is at the very core of our democratic
society, if we make a joke out of it, we ultimately do not take
democracy as serious as we should.
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Student Democrats
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Ay r t o n v a n N o o r t
#3
My name is Ayrton van Noort and this year I am running for the
student council as a member of the Student Democrats. I never
saw myself as politician but it is my opinion that when you see
something that you find to be wrong you should do whatever you
can to change it. It was this feeling that led me to join StuDem in
the first place and it still keeps me going strong. I find it
somewhat sad to see that student politics is no longer political
and that the two party system of this university is no longer
capable of securing democracy. I look forward to creating a body
of student politics where it once again is not about winning or
losing but changing things for the better.
I believe that going to university is about more than going to a
lecture. It is about learning rather than only studying and your
time as a student will shape the rest of your life. I love Tilburg
University very much but we could still do a little better. Let’s
make it better!
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Student Democrats
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Esther Skorupa
#4
I see myself as one of those who believe in academia and
education in a traditional sense. In the sense of acquiring
universal knowledge which is more extensive than schooling
and derives from culture, history and the communities we live
in. I enjoy learning and regard knowledge as an end in itself.
Universities build the foundation of knowledge and enable
higher education. Voicing our ideas in educational matters
determines our futures. Our education should be the center of
student politics. Further, I want student politics to be open to
everyone no matter what language they speak. Equality is the
basis of a more inclusive student community that we want to
establish. We aim to make student representation more
democratic by involving students in politics all year around,
they will be informed about the topics being discussed and have
a chance to be heard. The student democrats see themselves as
an open platform that will enable everyone to participate in
university life. I am a founding member of student democrats
because I believe it is time for something new, for student
politics to move forward. I stand for this change in perspective.
I will put all my heart into enabling critical education and
representing your views.
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Student Democrats
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Jörg von Dzerzawa
#5
Student Democrats, for me, is about being proactive and
legislating change. TiU’s current political configuration is as
such that the University Council is comprised exclusively of
natives. The implication of this is that a growing demographic
of international students are subjected to policy decisions which
they would have had no hand in devising. The electoral process
of recent years has seen the two existing factions attempt to
amass votes on the basis of material handouts, and sometimes,
simple insistence, rather than any allure of their policies. The
reason for this is most likely that the majority of students are
clueless as to what they actually represent, but more
dangerously, what their function is for the university. This
approach to politics is the sort to foster lethargy within our
community, and this is unacceptable considering that it
concerns notions of such fundamental importance - one’s rights,
their liberties, their duties, as are enforced by elected
representation. We created Student Democrats as an answer to
some of these issues, to promote inclusivity and provide greater
leeway to all students who would have a say in the processes
that affect them.
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Student Democrats
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Caroline Arias -van Oordt
#6
I think it is really important that a university offers students not
only a welcoming community, but also a critical and engaging
environment that really pushes them beyond their own limits. In
regard to the latter aspect, Tilburg University has still some
ground to win. I hope to be elected to the council, so that I can
represent the interests of those students who always strive to
reach their maximum potential. For me, university should be
about making the world a better place by making yourself grow.
I believe that our party really places the student at the center of
its values and aims. It's not about the party, it's about you.
Student Democrats
Position on list
Guido de Been
#7
I have always been interested in regular politics, but I felt that
university politics never lived up to its expectations. We saw
this for instance last year with the elections: it was a real circus.
It seems as if the current parties do not take their responsibility
to represent students seriously. I believe that student-parties
should act as a counter-weight to the Executive board by
offering a true vision; it shouldn't be just about microwaves and
library opening hours. StuDem grew out of the New University
movement of last year to do exactly that: offer students a vision
of a better university. I have decided to run for Council to make
that happen!
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Student Democrats
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Diana Meire
#8
Tilburg University is a rather diverse community, a community
that brings together people from all over the world with a goal
of acquiring a diploma in higher education. This also goes for
me, since I am from Latvia. Despite having this diverse setup of
individuals and multiple programs that are thought in English,
there is no sign of this diversity within the University Council.
Additionally, it took me until my second year to find out about
this body (the Council) that actually affects rather important
aspects of my student life. The way the elections were held,
gave me the impression that it was rather a Dutch activity to run
for the University Council, This in turn left me further feeling
like a guest instead of a full student at University. These
experiences combined with my interest for inspiring
communities lead me to join the newly created Student
Democrats; which actually promised to give me and other
internationals a voice. To set an example that every student
body does have a power and voice within the University I
decided therefore to run for the University Council. I believe
that the qualities that I possess as an individual - which are,
being caring, critical and pro-active - go hand in hand with the
pillars set out by the Student Democrats. Pillars that should be
projected in the Council by me or my party members who are
here to promote democracy, increase transparency, and facilitate
the creation of an inclusive student community.
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Student Democrats
Position on list
Evgeny La vrentjev
#9
The values and aims presented by Student Democrats really
spoke to me. I applied for a position on this list, because I
believe that universities should play a large role in bettering
society. The current parties in the University Council seem to
operate without a larger vision as to what universities are for,
and therefore I believe it to be necessary that we introduce some
new and refreshing ideas to the system. With my educational
background in business and finance (TiSEM), I hope to offer
the Council a more systematic and cost-benefit type of thinking
about political and educational problems. The end goal for me,
is to realize a university that brings forth individuals who have a
broader understanding of the markets beyond its business and
finance dimensions.