Candidacy Booklet Fall 24

Appendix 4 - Candidate Booklet

Case 10: Election 10.1 The Board of Samfunnet Head of Bodega Running for election: ✔ Rakel Mariannedotter Orvedal ✔ Sigbjørn Flatin Presentation of Rakel Mariannedotter Orvedal

Honorable General Assembly!

My name is Rakel; I am 21 years old and currently in my third year of Environmental Physics and Renewable Energy. I hereby announce my candidacy for the position of Head of Bodega of the Board of Samfunnet.

Since I started here in 2022, I have been proud to call Ås my home. Samfunnet gave me the opportunity to make new connections and build meaningful friendships when I first arrived as a student at Ås.

I believe that Samfunnet plays a vital role in making NMBU students some of the most satisfied students in Norway. It is inspiring that Samfunnet is run by dedicated, engaged, and talented students, and this is exactly what has motivated me to want to contribute myself. This work is important and ensures the excellent social experiences that Samfunnet provides. I want to help make sure that the House is a place where students can enjoy themselves and benefit as much from it as I have.

Samfunnet has an exciting time ahead with renovations in Rosehagen and eventually Aud.Max. Despite these

changes, I want students to continue feeling welcome in the House. Everyone should feel that Samfunnet is a safe and enjoyable place to be, both as guests and as committee members. Therefore, as Head of Bodega, I will continue the efforts already in motion to secure the House.

Additionally, it is important to me that the committees feel supported as the House undergoes further renovations. I want to foster strong collaboration between the committees and ensure solid planning, which are essential to continuing the great work the committees do for our beloved Bodega.

I joined the Security Committee the same semester I started here, giving me the chance to contribute to making UKA i Ås 2022 a safe and successful event. Since joining the committee, my desire to contribute has only grown. During UKA i Ås 2024, I was able to take part again—this time as Head of Security. After two years in the committee, I have developed a good understanding of event management and of the talented volunteers in the Bodega unit. Through this experience, I have gained valuable skills suited to the position of Head of Bodega.

I am clear, structured, and possess good teamwork skills. These are qualities I believe are essential in a leader, making me a strong candidate for Head of Bodega. I have extensive experience in event management, from small to large party nights, and am very familiar with the

unit. I will do my utmost to make the Bodega unit the best it can be, and I hope you will trust me with this responsibility.

Wishing everyone a successful election!

Best regards, Rakel Mariannedotter Orvedal

Presentation of Sigbjørn Flatin

Honorable General Assembly!

My name is Sigbjørn Flatin. I am 22 years old, and I am running for the position as Head of Bodega. I come from a small village called Krødsherad, which is located about two hours from here and has around 2,500 inhabitants. Most people probably know the area better as Norefjell. I am currently in my third year of a bachelor’s degree in forestry, with plans to continue on to a master’s. I really enjoy student life.

During my time here in Ås, I have gained insight into what Samfunnet i Ås is and what it does for students, and I have, of course, benefited myself as a student. It is a place where we can volunteer, which in turn helps us become part of a student

community. Samfunnet i Ås is a social arena that provides opportunities for personal development and learning. It’s not something we can take for granted; the "Ås bubble" exists because of us students and our willingness to volunteer.

As an Ås student for nearly three years, I have tried my hand at various things.

During this year's UKA i Ås festival, I served as Assistant Manager for Bar Technical Services. In this position, I gained experience in organizing and taking responsibility for a small team, while also implementing changes to make the work more efficient for one of the most important aspects of UKA: distributing spirits and mixers to the bars. I enjoyed the responsibility and organization involved, and this is something I would like to challenge myself with further.

Since spring, I have also worked as a security guard at Samfunnet, which has helped me become more familiar with the venue and I have gained a better understanding of how a night event is run.

I’m eager to learn even more about event management and how it all works. During my time at Ås, I have also been involved in various associations and currently hold a position on a board, which has given me insight into what it’s like to carry responsibilities. I believe that the experience I have gained in these previous roles will be a valuable toolbox for the position as Head of Bodega.

I still have at least two years left here at Ås, and I feel I have both the time and capacity to give something back. As Head of Bodega, I will be hardworking and receptive to the input of the Committee heads I will collaborate with in the Bodega unit. I believe it’s essential to always strive for improvement, however, it’s also important to remember that you’re part of a team and that working together builds trust.

To be completely honest, I have not held a Committee leader position or any higher position within Samfunnet before, so being Head of Bodega would be a new experience for me. Nonetheless, I will do my best, either by seeking advice from past holders of the position or other Committee leaders, as well as by taking initiative on my own. I know there are many people here with a wealth of knowledge, and I am confident that together, we can make this work. I want to contribute to ensuring that students have just as good offers as students in the future as they have today.

Best of luck with the election!

Sincerely, Sigbjørn Flatin

Head of Marketing Running for election: ✔ Madeleine Adelia Stenseng ✔ Sivert Aarflot

Presentation of Madeleine Adelia Stenseng

Honored General Assembly!

My name is Madeleine Adelia Stenseng (23 yo) and I come from Haslum. I have a Bachelor's degree in renewable energy and I am now taking economics classes before starting a master's in renewable energy after the summer. I was quickly integrated into life at Samfunnet with the bodega, quiz and waffle evenings and now I want to become part of the team that makes this happen. I am hereby running for election as Head of Marketing at Samfunnet i Ås.

I have had several positions during my studies which have given me good experience in marketing. Already in my first semester at NMBU, I joined the International trip committee for Energiforeningen, and then became a board member. The plan was to take a break, but then I was asked if I could take over as marketing manager for one semester, when the original one was going on an exchange trip. This was a position I took on with pleasure and it kept my interest going for similar positions. In the next election, I became the Activity Manager, a position I currently hold.

Through my time in EF, I have gained good knowledge in graphic design and the dissemination of information. The reason I want to run for the Board of Samfunnet is to use my previous experiences for the entire student body. I have a great interest in marketing and I am motivated to ensure that the students at NMBU stay up-to-date on Samfunnet's events throughout their busy lives.

I am ready to work together with the others on the Board of Samfunnet to ensure that Samfunnet i Ås remains the social institute it has become for Ås students. I hope you will grant me the honor to hold the position as Head of Marketing.

Warmest regards!

Sincerely, Madeleine Adelia Stenseng

Presentation of Sivert Aarflot

once took me in.

As head of the committee, I felt the creativity evolving to exciting ambitions. I wished for a design overhaul, which I was lucky to be a part of, and build the strong and memorable brand that is today.

Being part of something bigger than one self, for the sole purpose of doing something for someone else, inspired me to join UKA i Ås. Again, I was lucky to get the position of head of the design committee here as well, for UKA’s 100th year anniversary, which has been an adventure in itself.

Great assembly!

My name is Sivert Aarflot, I am 24 years old and I am in my 4th year of urban and regional planning studies.

I have been lucky to be able to contribute to Samfunnet in three years, and therefore wish to announce my candidacy as Head of Marketing!

While being a student in Ås, the "Ås spirit" has impressed me more and more, year after year. When I wanted to contribute, I felt like Samfunnet was the right place. I had my humble beginnings in the design committee and was met with warmth and open arms from day one. Volunteering sparked a passion to contribute, and it didn’t take more than half a year before I became head of the design committee, and became responsible for the great people that

The commitment to marketing didn’t stop there, as I joined my student association, and was elected as head of marketing there. A real trifecta of marketing!

I have learnt a lot, met a lot of people, laughed a lot, and struggled a bit, but juggling multiple commitments is not new for the average Ås-citizen, and as most know, however much work it is, it is always worth it, and we enjoy it a lot! Ås is a special place, with good values, long traditions, and wonderful people. I want to contribute as Head of Marketing, with ambitions to evolve Studentsamfunnet i Ås to see, listen and be there for the students, more than ever before, where we captivate and inspire an audience that maybe hasn’t been seen before. I wish for the "Ås spirit" and the heart for volunteering to

beat harder than ever before, and that more people see the value of joining, contributing and being a part of the wonderful community we are as lucky to have here in Ås.

I might have been wandering the halls of Samfunnet, and had a lot of fun for a few years now, but I feel far from finished. I still have a lot I want to give to this house we call Samfunnshuset, the students and all those who volunteer.

I wish you a great election!

Lots of love, Sivert Aarflot

Head of Administration Running for election: ✔ No pre-registered candidates

10.2 Tuntreet Editor Running for election: ✔ Henrik Bakken ✔ Kine Lie Presentation of Henrik Bakken

Honorable General Assembly!

My name is Henrik Bakken, and I am running for editor of Tuntreet.

I am 21 years old and currently in my second year of studies in Economics, Management, and IT. At present, I am a journalist for Tuntreet, and I love writing about what’s happening here in Ås. I have

worked as a freelance journalist nearly since my start here, contributing to every issue since then. To me, Tuntreet is an amazing place to work with dedicated editorial staff who make each issue unique and a joy to open every time. I want to work to keep it that way. As a journalist, I’ve had the opportunity to cover all kinds of stories—both fun and serious, and sometimes even both at the same time.

Another relevant experience I would like to highlight is my involvement with the ‘Movies on War’ film festival in my hometown, Elverum. I have been helping to organize this festival for several years, and I recently joined the board. Through this role, I have gained experience in leadership, communication, and addressing challenging topics—skills that are essential in an editorial role.

During my time at Tuntreet, I have covered a wide range of topics, including issues like the academic boycott of Israel, exclusion of international students, debates over an elected or appointed rector, and of course, Babylon Pizza. Many of these stories involved ethical considerations, like ensuring source anonymity when needed and respecting the right of reply. I want to continue ensuring quality in both what we write and how we write it, from an overall editorial perspective.

As editor, I will work to make Tuntreet a responsive newspaper. We will be visible and present where things happen.

Tuntreet will also remain critical and independent, acting as a watchdog and speaking up when necessary. Tuntreet is

the students’ newspaper, and I want the threshold for reaching out to the editorial team to be low for anyone who feels something is not as it should be.

I would describe myself as a creative person with a critical eye on the world around me, while also able to see humor in most things. I believe that with my background, I am well-suited to lead an editorial team and the various roles it entails.

I hope you will trust me with this role—I will do my best. Good luck with the election!

Sincerely, Henrik Bakken

Presentation of Kine Lie

Honorable General Assembly!

My name is Kine Lie, and I am running for editor of Tuntreet. I am 22 years old and in my first year of a masters in global development.

Today, I have lived in Ås for 91 days. I have also known I wanted to engage in Tuntreet for 91 days and have been a journalist in the paper since my first week here. As a new and slightly nervous student at NMBU, Tuntreet was my first encounter with the volunteer culture here in Ås and welcomed me with open arms. The warm and welcoming atmosphere in the office and editorial staff gave me comfort. This comfort and safety are something I wish to preserve in the editorial staff, and I want the office to be an open and safe

space for everyone who wants to engage in our work.

As a new student and journalist, I have a fresh, critical and curious look on the newspaper and Ås that I think can spice and freshen up the editorial staff. I am not afraid of a challenge, and I take this one head on. From previous leadership positions and jobs in Red Cross and Amnesty, I have collected a heavy backpack filled with experiences from different personalities, various responsibilities, and administrative tasks. I am tidy, reliable, structured and generous – qualities I think an editor should have. I have recently discovered that I thrive with extra responsibility and last semester I have gotten a bottomless respect for the editorial staff in Tuntreet and all the hard work they put in every single edition.

Tuntreet should be an outlet for frustration, new perspectives, creativity, and praise and criticism. I want to make sure that Tuntreet represents the students’ voices. Take a chance and put your faith in a new and ambitious student as your next editor!

Happy election, dear fellow students.

Best regards, Kine Lie.

10.3 The Business Committee Leader Running for election: ✔ Anna Bårdseng ✔ Jesper Strøm Presentation of Anna Bårdseng

Dear General Assembly and students in Ås!

My name is Anna Bårdseng, I’m 23 years old and come from Hamar. I’m currently in my 4th year studying Industrial Economics.

I am here by running for Leader of the Business Committee at NMBU. This last year I’ve been engaged in UKA i Ås as Committee head Contact in the administration unit. Through this, I’ve gained experience while mastering administrative tasks and obtaining contact between guests and cooperative partners.

The position has let me get to know our dear Studentsamfunn and I’ve gotten to

see all the work and engagement put down for student life in Ås. It has been inspiring and exciting to see what voluntary work can do.

During my time in Ås, I’ve been a part of NMBUI Cross-country skiing. I was elected as leader this May and have previously been financial manager and board member for one year each. My position as leader involves having responsibility over weekly practices, cabin trips and other social events. In addition to this, it’s an important part of the position to create a social and active arena where everyone feels welcome and gets to feel a sense of accomplishment. Practice with the ski group is also a highlight in everyday life and a nice break from school.

I’m not afraid to take responsibility and would be a structured and determined leader with a large will to achieve accomplishments. In my role as Leader of the Business Committee, I will continue to connect students with businesses and show that NMBU has the best students! In addition, I will work towards a close partnership with study organizations and show students which possibilities exist in the career world.

Taking this into accord, I would like to continue my engagement in Studentsamfunnet i Ås, by taking over the role as leader. I will use the possibility to be curious and tackle new challenges head on. Hope you’ll give me your trust!

Good election!

Best regards, Anna Bårdseng

Presentation of Jesper Strøm

Honored General Assembly!

My name is Jesper Strøm, I am 21 years old and I grew up in Gothenburg, Sweden.

In the upcoming General Assembly, I am running for the position of Leader of the Business Committee (NU) for the next two terms. Here at NMBU, I am studying industrial management and I am soon halfway through my first year!

As a new student, it may seem unusual to run for such a significant role so early in my studies. However, it’s not something new for me to dive head first into new challenges. I have been fortunate to start my studies during a UKA year! This has given me the opportunity to experience the joy of volunteering in Ås. I have worked as “NK stormiddag” for UKA i Ås, “KS sponsor” for NU, taking part in the operating festival management for UKA, and I have joined the Men's choir “Over Rævne”! These experiences have helped me quickly become familiar with student life in Ås, and I am eager to engage in

even more! Now that UKA i Ås is over, I already feel the anxiousness of not having a bit of chaos in my everyday life, so I am seeking a new voluntary position right away!

For me, it is very exciting to connect with different businesses and companies.

Especially given the many interesting job opportunities that await us students.

Exploring these opportunities and being responsible for strengthening the relationships between students and different companies is something that truly excites me!

My engagement in the Business Committee this autumn, provided me the chance to get to know both Studentsamfunnet i Ås and the tasks within the NU's organization. I believe that my experiences from UKA and previous work experiences, where I have been recognized as efficient and goal-oriented, are qualities that would be beneficial as the Leader of the Business Committee.

I hope you find me an exciting candidate, and I look forward to seeing you at the General Assembly!

Best of luck with your voting!

Best regards, Jesper Strøm

Head of Sponsor Running for election: ✔ Simen Naper Nilsen Presentation of Simen Naper Nilsen

Technician for the revue during UKA i Ås and miniUKA, and I have also become a student representative in Tekna. Working as a volunteer during UKA has given me deeper insight into how Studentsamfunnet i Ås operates and how much effort each individual puts in to make everything run smoothly. I am also a board member of a newly established student consulting firm, which has given me experience in reaching out to and engaging with companies.

I see a role in NU as incredibly rewarding, both for myself and for you. The work done by the Committee is vital for helping us at NMBU connect with the business world and for the industry to get to know us as students. It is also important to me that Studentsamfunnet i Ås has enough resources to do all the activities it wants to offer the students. I hope to contribute to this as Head of Sponsor.

Honourable General Assembly My name is Simen Naper Nilsen, and I am 21 years old. I am currently in my second year of Industrial Economics here at NMBU, and I am now eager to take on an exciting and meaningful role. Therefore, I hereby announce my candidacy for the position of Head of Sponsor in the Business Committee at NMBU. From the very start during Orientation Week, I realized how important a strong student community is here at NMBU. This environment wouldn’t be possible without the continuous contributions of students working both within and beyond Samfunnet throughout the year. Earlier this year, I served as volunteer in Sound

I am now ready to give back to Studentsamfunnet by taking on the role of Head of Sponsor in NU. I believe I would be well-suited for this position, as I enjoy talking to people and working as part of a team to achieve the best possible results.

It’s important to me to complete tasks thoroughly and diligently while also ensuring those around me are content.

With these qualities, I believe I could do a great job as Head of Sponsor and contribute to the important work NU does here at NMBU. I therefore hope you will trust me with this role.

Wishing all students a great election!

Best regards, Simen Naper Nilsen

Head of Marketing Running for election: ✔ Elena Tanbo Stene Presentation of Elena Tanbo Stene

Honorable General Assembly

My name is Elena Tanbo Stene. I am 22 years old and a fourth-year student in Urban and Regional Planning. I am running for the position of Head of Marketing for the Business Committee at NMBU. Over the past year, I have been Committee Head House project for UKA i Ås 2024. I am also employed in the Communications Department at NMBU. I have been thinking for a while about what I want to do now that UKA i Ås is over, but what I do know is that I want to take on a new role. I am open and positive about trying something different from the position I held during UKA i Ås, so when the Head of Marketing position in NU was mentioned to me, I was immediately

interested. After reading about the responsibilities of the position, I felt that this is something that would suit me, while also being a role where I can further develop my skills in social media and gain new knowledge that I can carry forward.

Former members of NU have mentioned that holding a position in the Committee has had a positive impact on their careers, and this is something that draws me toward this role. I see it as an exciting opportunity to continue engaging with Samfunnet and the professional world.

I believe I can primarily contribute with my knowledge of social media, communication, and graphic design.

Through my years as a social media and Communications employee at NMBU, I have learned how to produce content for social media and how to communicate effectively with an audience. In addition to my knowledge, I have a personal interest in marketing and graphic design, which will positively contribute to the role. Other personal qualities that I believe will benefit the role are my attention to detail, my enjoyment of teamwork, and my ability to contribute to a positive team morale.

I already have ideas that I believe could add value and help further develop the role.

Good luck with the election!

Kind regards, Elena Tanbo Stene

10.4 The Board of House and Finance External representative Running for election: ✔ Marek Zimmermann Presentation of Marek Zimmermann

representative in the Board of House and Finance, allowing me to contribute to the operations of Studentsamfunnet i Ås.

Throughout this year, I have worked alongside incredibly talented students and external representatives, who have taught me a lot about the long-term management of Studentsamfunnet i Ås. I feel I have now gained enough experience and am ready to take on new tasks together with the rest of the board.

I am now seeking your renewed trust for another two years as an external representative in HF. We have exciting times ahead with the planned renovation of Aud.Max. and the challenges that entails. On the other hand, the number of students at NMBU is steadily increasing, while the capacity of the building has essentially remained unchanged over the past few years. We need to explore new ways to involve and engage a similarly large portion of the student body as before, so that Studentsamfunnet continues to be the heart and soul of Ås students for many years to come.

Hi! My name is Marek Zimmermann, I am 26 years old and graduated from NMBU in the spring of 2022. I studied Eiendom, am currently working for Bane NOR and live in Ås. As a student, I was active in various organizations, including the Songchoir Lærken, the Election Committee, and as Head of Marketing for Samfunnet i Ås.

Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of serving as an external

If I am elected as an external representative, I promise to continue to give my all to Studentsamfunnet, which has given so much to me over the past seven years.

Happy election!

10.5 Election Committee Member x2 Running for election: ✔ Astor Ness Presentation of Astor Ness

Dear General Assembly!

My name is Astor Ness, I am in the final year of a bachelor's degree in plant science. I moved from far away and started out quite nervously as a student.

Through meeting the right people, I was quickly introduced to association life, and from there to Samfunnet i Ås and most importantly; the volunteering. This was something that quickly grew on me, and

something that I admire and look up to every day.

I am interested in large parts of Ås and its social circle. Sings in a choir, plays handball for NMBUI, a member of the local association, has just been KS for UKA i Ås, and is also the duty officer in the public order committee. This has meant that I get to talk to and get to know more and different people, and now I want to take that little bit extra by running for the Election Committee!

The reason I am running for this is simply because I really want to! I love getting into things. I love being able to be social and, not least, chat! Therefore, I feel that such a position would suit me perfectly.

Because if there is anything I can contribute with, it is talking and persuasion. I have myself been in situations where friends and I apply for committees together, and at the same time bring in more people for committees.

I have been KS for UKA, where I recruited many to my own committee myself. So that I have experience in getting people involved. I now want to try this for something bigger, i.e. GA and board positions!

Therefore, I believe that I fit in well with the Election Committee. Because I want to see volunteering in Ås flourish. I want to see people get involved!

Good choice!

Lots of Love Astor Ness