3 out of 10 said no to coffee campaign

The coffee campaign commenced at all cafés and cafeterias run by the Foundation for Student Life in Oslo (SiO) from the 4th to the 18th of March. During this period, the price of coffee was one krone more expensive than the usual price at SiO cafes, and the money raised went to the Student Peace Prize.

– It is wonderful than we can strengthen the Student Peace Prize as an organization through a solidary coffee campaign, says president of the Welfare Council, Jenny Nygaard.

Although the level of generosity among students was sufficient enough to raise 22 897 kroner, many did not wish to contribute. During 9079 sales, customers declined to pay the extra money.

– In order to avoid paying the extra fee, one had to actively say so at the till. We made it clear that you could avoid paying that extra krone if you wanted to, says vice president of the Welfare Council, Ingvild Skogvold.

Trygve Thorsen, leader of the International Student Festival in Trondheim (ISFiT), is pleased that so much money was raised for the Student Peace Prize, but thinks that those who chose not to donate were being somewhat petty.

– It is disappointing that so many choose to save that one krone, Thorsen says.

Emil Aas Stoltenberg of the Social Democrats believes that the principle of freedom of choice is too highly valued among the majority in the Welfare Council. He has previously argued that the donation to the Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund (SAIH), that students pay in addition to the semester fee, should not be optional.

– In this case, as in the case regarding the SAIH fee, I disagree with the majority of the people in the Welfare Council.

– Should the coffee campaign be voluntary?

– No. I think that you should inform people that the coffee is one krone more expensive, but that this extra krone is not optional. Yet the fact that over 23 000 kroner has been raised suggests that there is a good deal of generosity among students, he says.

Skogvold and Nygaard point out that the majority of the Welfare Council has voted for the voluntary arrangement.

– The voluntary aspect increases the legitimacy of the campaign, Skogvold claims.

– And when 23 000 choose to pay, that is very good, Nygaard emphasizes.

Thoresen of ISFiT agrees with Stoltenberg that the principle of voluntarism should be removed.

– In Trondheim, you do not have a choice during the coffee campaign; if you buy coffee, it is going to cost one krone extra, Thoresen says.