Semester fees are used to buy alcohol
But no one knows how much is actually spent.
Every year, 65,000 students in Oslo pay the semester fee, but where does the money go?
In an attempt to get an overview of how much money is allocated to buying alcohol within student associations, Universitas contacted The Welfare Council in Oslo and Akershus, the Welfare Council’s Culture Board, Radio Nova, Oslo Student Sports Club, The Norwegian Student Society, and The Student Union at BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo (SBIO). Every organization confirmed they use money on alcohol, but no one could provide an estimate on how much is being used.
No overview
«SBIO has a very comprehensive economy which covers very many sub-unions with varying degrees of autonomy over its own resources,» says Emil Lundal, president of the Student Union SBIO.
According to Lundal, this makes it difficult to estimate how much money SBIO uses on alcohol. The leadership of SBIO confirmed events held by sub-unions can have alcohol. This happens through their own application processes.
Lundal expressed to Universitas that SBIO will reduce spending on alcohol. He has not answered Universitas’ questions about how they have thought of doing that when they do not know how much they are buying.
Lacking an alcohol policy
The Welfare Council in Oslo and Akershus is the highest organ for students that belong to the Student Welfare Organisation of Oslo and Akershus (SiO). They approve the division and use of the semester fee which is paid to SiO.
«Neither the Welfare Council or the Culture Board has any concrete policies with regards to alcohol in their allocation rules, but our primary allocation principle is always that the money ought to be used for the students’ best interests,» says Linn Skyum, who is responsible for policy and media in the Welfare Council.
At their own arrangements, their practice has been that they do not provide alcohol to the student-chosen representatives.
Similar to the Welfare Council, the Culture Board also provides money to arrangements which include alcohol. This can be welcome drinks at launch parties, among other things, explains Idun Kløvstad, the leader of the Culture Board.
Simen F. Mathisen, CEO of Radio Nova, explains that they use some money on alcohol.
«It has to do with a prize or a symbol of thanks for help every once in a while, and does not make up a large sum in the course of a year,» says Mathisen.
Overview not required
When asked if the Welfare Council thinks that it is alright to use part of the semester fee to buy alcohol for student associations such as SBIO, Skyum responds that they have little reason to believe that the money they have provided SBIO has been used on alcohol consumption.
«If associations prioritize money on alcohol in such a way that it has consequences for the normal activities of the associations, it would be evident in the application. The Welfare Council does not want to begin to require an overview of yearly alcohol costs from student associations.»
«For the association itself, it could be useful to have an overview of this. That being said, we deal with the economy and activity as a whole when we provide money to associations,» says Skyum.
