Rector Candidate Kristian Gundersen was perhaps a bit too quick in his office 25 years ago?

2005-09-07 På norsk

”When I read that he had dropped one kilo of quicksilver on the floor, and that he has no idea of where it all went, I decided to check exactly how dangerous this type of chemicals is. I consulted an encyclopedia, and it is in fact really dangerous,” Ph.D. research fellow at the Institute for Educational Research Ingerid Straume says.

She was listed as one of Gundersen’s supporters in the election campaign. However, she is now reconsidering her support following reports of the Professor’s quick accident in the column “Min studietid” in last week’s edition of Universitas. In a reader’s letter in this edition she writes among others:

“If Gundersen does not care more about the working environment of people around him, I need to reconsider my support.”

“Different View”

Last week, Gundersen described how the quicksilver was dispersed all over the floor like pearls. He cannot relate much to Straume’s reaction to his quick round of chemicals.

“This is somewhat absurd. The accident happened 25 years ago. People had a different view on working environment, back then. We were also unaware of the dangers of quicksilver. When I started my studies at Blindern, my tutor used to empty his trousers of quicksilver after class,” Gundersen says.

The Rector candidate neither understands the anger aimed at him because he would not tell in what office the accident occurred.

“It was meant as a joke. The entire building has been fully refurbished. And I am the person who has spent most time in there. Furthermore, this was not kept secret from the executives at the Department,” Gundersen says who reminds people that he was still an undergraduate when the accident occurred.

Quickly Annoyed?

And research fellow Straume agrees that her criticism might be somewhat excessive.

“I might be overreacting. But if this impression, which is created by the Universitas story, is correct, then this is a serious matter,” she says.

Sondre Skogly • Åshild Bekke Eidem (photo) • Translated by Egil Ellenes