Set to save Chateau Neuf in crisis

It is Saturday at 8.30 pm, and there is not a single guest in Glassbaren at Chateau Neuf, aka Det Norske Studentersamfunn (DNS). On the floor above Glassbaren DNS hold their annual general meeting. Problems have been piling up:

The University of Oslo (UiO) sat down with DNS on 13 October where projections were presented indicating that funds would not cover more than another three or four months of operating the student bars. Outgoing Chairman of DNS Øistein Svelle admits that the situation is dramatic but points out that Chateau Neuf servering A/S is in a better state than previously feared.

• Turnover has decreased by 17 per cent compared to earlier years for the student bars. The limited company Chateau Neuf servering A/S expects to be NOK 300,000 in the red.
• Fewer students go to Union concerts.
• Sponsor and rent income for 2005 declined by NOK 450,000 compared to budget projections.
• DNS have troubles finding volunteers. They barely get enough people to work from one week to the next.

– Something has to be done!

– We should be the natural gathering site for students in Oslo, but we are currently lagging behind. We basically have problems. We have to make strong efforts to rebuild DNS from the start, Ida Jørgensen Thinn says in an address to the general meeting.

Svelle admits that considerable measures have to be undertaken.

– What happens if this trend does not stop?

– That would call for dramatic measures and cuts in fixed costs. However, we have not initiated a plan B. We will achieve an increase in number of visitors, he promises.

This autumn, DNS have been forced to give first priority to external events like private business parties, as opposed to student events. A working committee comprised of executives from the Foundation for Student Life in Oslo (SiO), UiO and DNS is now set to outline how they can revive the Students` Union.

No self-criticism

– Could the Board have done anything to prevent these problems?

– That would be mere speculations, but from what I understood, the general meeting held that the Board members have done well. I do not think there is much room for self-criticism, Svelle feels.

Heine Strømme, on the other hand, is critical. He was Svelle’s opposing candidate for the Chairman of DNS last year.

– Board members are more into politics than activities, and the tiny portion of work they actually do is focused on the wrong things. For instance, they have spent considerable time and resources on changing their name rather than assess how the Union is doing. Clubstyret are responsible for booking bands, and they book them according to their own taste, bands nobody has heard of. They consequently earn no money. What is more, they do not recruit, and this year, for instance, they have chosen to increase beer prices for members, he says.

Svelle replies that DNS have knowingly given priority to marketing in order to be more visible to students. He says that they would love to book big, commercial bands, but the money simply has not allowed this. The cultural scene in Oslo has also toughened, and the Board therefore proposed to hire a booking responsible full-time from 2006. However, they need to improve recruitment procedures, he admits.

Cheerful

Despite considerable difficulties, the new Board members elected last Saturday are optimists to the bone.

– I promise that we will bring the old chateau back to its original greatness. Join me in making this the best year in a long time, the recently elected Chairman Torbjørn Valum addressed to the general meeting.

The 25 year old History student pledges that he will aspire to improved recruitment and more Union activities. He is set to ask the municipality of Oslo and other public institutions for support. He hopes to be able to host larger concerts every month when finances allow it.

Co-ordinator Kristin Zalik will also take steps to keep recently recruited volunteers working, whereas the recently elected PR-officer Øyvind Lium promises improved information to students.