Should the SDU elections remain an Odense-only event?

On November 28, the voting for the SDU elections 2024 closed. On November 29, the election results were announced. The announcement also included the voter turnout. I particularly noticed that the turnout was 4.42 for the University Council and 6.13 per cent for the Board. This is incredibly low for elections that will affect the future and strategy of the entire University. 

New campaigns, but the target audience remains Odense 

It has not escaped my notice that there has been a massive election campaign: “Stem for Satan!”, an info evening about the elections and a live election debate in the student bar Nedenunder. Plenty has been done to spread the word about the elections. But I only know this because I do everything I can to stay informed about what is happening at the University. Unfortunately, these initiatives primarily target students in Odense. I am almost happy that I cannot see the voter turnout for each campus, because if the voting percentage is already shockingly low for all students, imagine if you looked at Esbjerg, Sønderborg, Kolding, or Slagelse in isolation. 

A few lists and a few candidates did attempt to campaign in Esbjerg. There were flyers and election posters. But it is of no use when the students have no idea why they are there. I myself acted as Syddanske Studerende's (Students of Southern Denmark’s) representative in Esbjerg, offering coffee and cake and ready to spread the general knowledge of the elections. And the recurring theme was: No one knew about the elections. 

And that is a shame! Because I only encountered fellow students who were curious about the elections and wanted to have an influence. Who wanted to know more about the candidates, what the candidates stood for, and what impact students generally have in the various bodies. I have even heard of staff asking for more content to promote the elections, but to no avail. Why can’t we spread the campaigns to all our campus cities so that everyone has an equal opportunity to learn about the elections and support our democracy? 

Let’s spread the word! 

I know it can be hard to spread the word when some of us students don’t always check our student email. But when even staff members ask for more content to help promote the elections, make sure they get it! Can we expand the campaigns? Get more physical presence about the elections on all campuses? Let students know at the start of their studies that this exists and that we have a genuine influence on the direction of the University when we vote? 

The above questions were asked by my fellow students when I was promoting the elections. I personally think that an info evening about the elections should be held on all campuses, not just in Odense. That election debates should, as an absolute minimum, be livestreamed with the opportunity to ask questions online, so that they can be broadcast live in the other student bars or accessed from home. Ideally, these debates should also be on-campus events on all campuses. 

When some of us from other campuses feel overlooked, it is precisely at the elections that we can let our voices be heard. And I encountered nothing but a huge interest in the elections and a desire to get more information earlier. So why not cater to that interest?