– Neglecting Freedom of Speech
Kjartan Almenning, representing the political group Moderat Gruppe, is accusing Maria Veie Sandvik of neglecting freedom of speech in the debate over tuition fees.
– Education for all is the most sacred of precepts for the Student Parliament. Tuition fees are completely out of the question, leader of the Student Parliament Maria Veie Sandvik says.
Student representative Kristian Meisingset`s comments in last week’s edition of Universitas and the conservative student periodical Minerva yet again put tuition fees on the agenda at Norwegian universities. Meisingset stresses that he is not in favour of tuition fees himself, but that it is necessary to discuss how an improvement of quality within Norwegian Higher Education will be financed.
– Ambivalent role
Meisingset says that mentioning the tuition fees was more rhetorical than representative of his own opinions. Many have interpreted his statements otherwise. Meisingset has faced the music following his remarks, especially from the working committee (AU) under the Student Parliament, which he is a member of himself.
Meisingset signed his name to the article in Minerva with the title «responsible for education and academics in the Student Parliament». However, he made his statement as a private individual. This is a problem because he is undeniably tied to his role in AU.
Banned from speaking
Kjartan Almenning, leader of Moderat gruppe and fellow group member with Kristian Meisingset, reacts strongly to the reprimand from the Student Parliament leader.
- This can hardly be regarded as anything besides banning Student Parliament representatives from speaking Kjartan Almenning, leader of Moderat gruppe
– This can hardly be regarded as anything besides banning Student Parliament representatives from speaking unless they exclusively stick to adopted policies. In my opinion, members of AU employ great competence and should therefore be able to debate over external matters as well. We are talking about the status of the freedom of speech, Almenning says.
He believes that the debate is important in order to stimulate interest in student politics among students in general. In this respect, he is supported by Veie Sandvik:
– We have a problem if AU’s external consensus leads to low commitment to student politics and Student Parliament elections. We won’t benefit from disallowing every initiative from AU members.
More money
Nevertheless, Veie Sandvik does not wish to comment on tuition fees.
– The implementation of the Quality Reform needs more desperate measures than what can be covered through current funding from the Ministry of Education and Research. However, quality improvement must not be subject to restrictions or tuition fees, Veie Sandvik says.
Kristian Meisingset does not wish to comment on whether he feels gagged by AU but lets the Student Parliament decide.
– I am first and foremost preoccupied with discussing politics. The question of freedom of speech regarding AU members is a matter of principle that lies in the hands of the Student Parliament, Meisingset says.
