Glaðvakandi - Birthday edition

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26

REYKJAVÍK 2025

GLAÐVAKANDI

A historic event was held in Gamla bíó earlier this February when Vaka members came together and celebrated 90 years of Vaka.

Vaka’s Legendary Gathering It was a unique night of grandeur at Gamla Bíó as Vaka celebrated its 90th anniversary on February 8th. Generations of Vaka members came together—people who, at first glance, might not seem to have much in common. However, one thing unites them all: their dedication to upholding Vaka’s important legacy and fighting for student interests for nearly a century.

A Walk Through History

The celebration took a nostalgic dive into Vaka’s long and eventful journey, showcasing the countless initiatives the organization has championed over the years.

Guests were treated to music, entertainment, and speeches from both past and present members, who shared stories and memories from their time in Vaka. The atmosphere was electric, with smiles

all around. Attendees spanned multiple generations, from freshfaced students to seasoned alumni, a testament to the organization’s deep roots and lasting influence.

Student Elections Ahead

Last year, Vaka secured a majority in the University of Iceland’s Student Council elections for the first time since 2016. With this strong mandate, the organization is

well-positioned to push forward its policies and continue advocating for students’ rights. The next elections will take place on April 2–3.

At the heart of Vaka’s mission is a firm belief: student advocacy should remain independent from national politics. The focus should always be on student issues, ensuring that their interests take center stage in everything the organization does.

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

The Leader’s Address Sæþór Már Hinriksson Leader of Vaka Dear Vaka Members, Friends, and Comrades!

It is both an honor and a joy to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Vaka, the association of democratic students. For ninety years, our organization has stood guard over student interests, defended democ-

racy, and contributed to making the university community better, more open, and more just.

The history of Vaka is a story of struggle, courage, and vision. It is the story of people who dared to stand their ground, who did not yield in the face of adversity but instead paved the way for future generations. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us and bear the responsibility to continue the journey—with strength, passion, and solidarity.

At this milestone, we look both back and ahead. We remember the victories and challenges of past decades, but we also know that the work is far from over. We will continue to fight for student rights, for democracy, and for a stronger university community. Vaka is not just an organization—it is a movement, an ideology, and the heartbeat of those who believe in a future where every voice is heard.

Congratulations on this special day, dear members! May Vaka live

and thrive for the next 90 years and well into the 21st century!

The Editorial Address Hannes Lúðvíksson Editor of Glaðvakandi I want to sincerely congratulate Vaka on this day, and hopefully I’ll be lucky enough to celebrate a 90th birthday myself.

When I turn 90, Vaka will be 156 years old. If the people writing the 150-year anniversary magazine are reading this, look me up - if I’m still around, I’m up for an interview.

This paper is, in many ways, about reflecting on the past years. Vaka has finally secured a majority in the Student Council, something that hasn’t happened since 2017. Arent Orri is thus the first SHÍ president

from Vaka since Kristófer Már Maronsson held the position in 2017.

I first got involved with Vaka just before Christmas in 2022 when Arent reached out to me and invited me to a board meeting. I knew Arent because we were in the same year at MR, and I knew that he was someone who never did anything half-heartedly. At that time, I had been studying at HÍ for about two years and paid little attention to student politics, but I knew that Vaka had just two representatives against fifteen. Still, I had a feeling that Arent would be quick to change that.

At that board meeting, I met Viktor Pétur, whom I remembered from a national meeting of the Independence Party, and Júlíus

Viggó, my fellow economics student.

After the meeting, I was placed in the policy committee, where Júlíus was chairman, and that’s where I got to know the Vaka Valkyries, Signý Pála and Sigurbjörg Guðmundsdóttir.

The policy committee was very active that year, and we managed to get the university’s parking issue to become a widely discussed topic, even among people who had never cared about student politics before. There was also something about the energy in our campaign headquarters on Hverfisgata 50 that I will never forget. After the 2023 elections, when we went from two representatives to five, I became completely hooked. I saw then that all the effort we had put in was

paying off, and that the jump from five representatives to a majority of nine was proportionally smaller than the leap from two to five.

After the 2023 elections, I joined the board as an international representative. At that point, Arent was chairman, and the entire board had one clear goal: to secure a majority. Now, I am in my second year on Vaka’s board and incredibly proud of the role I have played in reviving this historic and important organization, which is just as relevant to students today as it was in 1935. I have been a part of Vaka for approximately 12.5% of my life— but only 0.03% of Vaka’s lifetime.

Í MORGUN MATINN GÓÐGERLAR GÓÐ HUGMYND

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

HÁSKÓLANEMAR skipta

máli S T É T TA R F É L A G

Skráðu þig hér

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

LÍS’ First President Hannes Lúðvíksson Editor of Glaðvakandi Anna Marsibil Clausen, a former student at the University of Iceland and a member of Vaka, was the first president of the National Union of Icelandic Students (LÍS). Founded in 2013, the organization serves as an umbrella for university students in Iceland, representing all seven universities in the country as well as Icelandic students studying abroad.

“I started studying literature in the fall of 2010, eager for social life after a rather isolating stay in Aarhus the previous year. I don’t remember exactly how it all happened, but one day, I ran into my friend from Verzlunarskóli, Stefán Þór Helgason, at Háskólatorg, and he invited me to what was probably Vaka’s fall trip. All I heard was ‘party trip,’ so I said yes.

Then I just kept saying yes to party invitations, and suddenly I was on the list,” says Anna Marsibil Clausen, the first president of LÍS, when asked why she joined Vaka.

“That was an exciting time. Vaka had just come out of a long dry spell, and there was a lot of energy in the group. I think I participated in three election campaigns and knew nothing but winning. Looking back, there probably wasn’t much that truly separated Vaka, Röskva, and even the now-defunct Skrökva at the time. Everyone just wanted to have fun and do good for students, though there were definitely debates over methods. But working on student interests can be demanding; most people do it without pay.

Having an opponent—someone to beat—probably made the job a little more exciting. And, of course, the victory parties were the best ones,” Anna says.

Focus on Helping Exchange Students

“I think I took a seat in the University Council after that first election, and then in the Student Council the following year. That was also when I took on the role of SHÍ’s international representative, which was incredibly rewarding. The year before, I had made a good friend from Poland through the so-called Buddy System, and since I partied, I gathered a lot of votes from my exchange student friends, whom I had met at parties through her.

One of the first things we did in the international committee was to change the Buddy System into the Mentor System, which is still called that today. It had been difficult to recruit volunteers for the Buddy System, but with a simple change— where Icelandic students didn’t have

VAKA REFLECTS 90 Years Old But Just Getting Started

Spring semester is in full swing, and the new Vaka majority in the Student Council has gotten its first taste of real action. Their first big move? A full-on restructuring of Oktoberfest. With the right approach and a revamped business model, Vaka didn’t just throw the biggest and best Oktoberfest of all time, but the Student Council’s profit from the festival wasn’t just increased—it was multiplied.

Why does that matter?

Anna Marsibil Clausen was the first president of LÍS. to commit to being ‘friends’ with the exchange students—volunteer participation increased significantly.

Friendships may still have formed, but the focus was more on helping exchange students understand their schedules, navigate campus, and find the cheapest grocery stores.

Solving everyday issues that can seem overwhelming as a student in a new country. It looks like this system is still in place today, and I hope it’s working just as well as it did then.

At the very least, we kept securing more votes from international students in the elections afterward,” Anna says.

SHÍ Was the Only Icelandic Student Organization in ESU, Despite Seven Universities “What I didn’t realize when I became an international representative was that the role wasn’t just about exchange students but also about international work abroad. That spring, it became clear that SHÍ had not attended meetings at the European Students’ Union (ESU) for some time, and the organization was threatening to expel us if we didn’t start showing up. They didn’t have to tell me twice, and suddenly, I found myself at a super-formal conference in Copenhagen with students from all over Europe.

But there, it also became clear that SHÍ was an exception. All the other participants represented national student unions in their countries. When SHÍ joined ESU, it was the only student organization in Iceland, but now there were seven universities,” Anna adds.

A Common Opponent Secured LÍS’s Future

“Of course, it wasn’t acceptable for SHÍ to speak on behalf of all Icelandic students in Europe without input from the other student organizations. Sara Sigurðardóttir, then president of SHÍ, strongly

encouraged me to bring the other student organizations to the table, and discussions about founding LÍS began that fall. It had been attempted before but had stalled due to disagreements over voting power between SFHR and SHÍ, and the process took time.

The following year, however, things took a ‘fortunate’ turn when LÍN (the Icelandic Student Loan Fund) tried to push through certain changes to the student loan system against students’ wishes.

With SHÍ’s new president, María Rut Kristinsdóttir, at the helm, the student organizations united in legal action and won. It’s that same idea of a common opponent. At that moment, everyone saw the benefits of student collaboration and the need for a strong, unified student voice. The work strengthened the movement and secured LÍS’s future,” says Anna.

Hard Work That Led to What We Know Today

“I was elected president of LÍS after leading the work to establish it, and honestly, I was not thrilled about it. I was completely exhausted and burnt out. I’m also the type of person who is often better at coming up with ideas than following through on them. Luckily, amazing presidents and boards took over in the following years and continued to build up LÍS. I always get emotional when I see LÍS representatives at work, and I wish for nothing more than to own an official LÍS hoodie like the ones made a few years ago. That’s actually my only complaint about the organization—that they haven’t given me a hoodie yet. Or even let me pay for one!

From what I can tell, the organization has done a great job in recent years. But it’s not my place to have opinions on their current work—that’s for the new people in charge, and that’s exactly how it should be,” Anna says in closing.

Because that profit went straight back into the Student Council’s budget. With a healthier financial situation, the council was able to significantly increase funding for student societies, meaning student life across all faculties directly benefited from Vaka’s decisionmaking.

And that’s not all. Vaka also launched a brand-new event—The SHÍ Annual Ball, the first of its kind and the first university-wide ball since Glitnir was a thing (probably).

If Harvard can do it, so can we.

Verzló-fication of HÍ?

Now, the usual suspects (who often march under the red sun) claim that the University of Iceland is being “Verzló-fied”—that Vaka is all about parties and fun, while real issues are left to gather dust.

Well, the anonymous author of Vökuveltur is not a proud alum of the notorious school by Kringlan, so measuring against it is a bit tricky.

But let’s get one thing straight: a strong student life is priceless. And, contrary to the haters’ claims, real issues are far from being ignored—in fact, quite the opposite.

Everything is happening.

Thanks to Vaka, the next medical school entrance exams will also be held in Akureyri for the first time, SHÍ services have expanded with a new Student Rights Representative, and the Student Council is fighting for the right to retake exams across all faculties. Distance learning has become a top priority in advocacy efforts, Háma in Eirberg is still open despite plans to shut it down last year, and parking fees at UI are still nowhere to be seen. The list goes on.

The issues that matter are getting full attention. Vaka isn’t losing itself in student life—it’s just capable of doing both. And doing it well.

P.S.

Oh, and Vaka also secured the SHÍ Deal at Bæjarins Beztu: two hot dogs and a soda for a thousand krónur.

Big issues, small issues—all issues matter.

WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

The Happy Memories of Vaka

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Drífa Lýðsdóttir Journalist of Vaka Helga Lára Haarde began her studies at the University of Iceland in 2004, initially enrolling in law for one year before switching to psychology in the fall of 2005. That same year, she also became involved in Vaka’s activities. She joined Vaka’s executive board in 2006, serving as secretary, and by the following year, she had become the organization’s chairperson, holding the position from 2007 to 2008.

“It was the obvious choice for me - I had always looked up to Vaka,” says Helga when asked why she chose Vaka over other student organizations. Her mother had been on Vaka’s board, and her brother served as chairman from 2001 to 2002, leading Vaka to victory after years in the political wilderness.

She adds that the social aspect also played a role in her choice, as many of the people around her were involved in Vaka. “It never even crossed my mind to join Röskva,” Helga says with a laugh.

Lost by Just Six Votes

When Helga became Vaka’s chairperson in 2007, a significant effort was needed to rebuild the organization, as it had been some time since Vaka had held the majority. The situation was more complex back then because, in addition to Vaka and Röskva, there was also the University List running in the elections. This changed in 2007 when Röskva secured an outright majority. Throughout that academic year, Vaka focused entirely on strengthening its position.

“In the election when I was chairperson, we lost by just six votes, which was incredibly frustrating,” Helga says. However, in 2009, even though she was no longer chairperson, she was still actively helping Vaka - and that year, the organization secured a landslide victory, winning by approximately 200 votes.

“My Best Friends Today Are the People I Met in Vaka” During Helga’s time in Vaka, it was crucial to get people to the polling stations, as elections were not conducted electronically. Looking back, she believes that if everyone had made sure just one more person voted, those six missing votes could have been secured, demonstrating the importance of every single ballot.

While the loss was tough, Helga recalls the election campaign as an exciting experience, despite a

Helga Lára Haarde talks about her time in Vaka as some of the best years of her life. difficult election night.

“There is often more energy and excitement when you’re facing adversity,” she says when asked if the spirit within Vaka remained strong despite the disappointing result. At this time the executive board was renting a space which became a hub for meetings, planning, and fostering a strong competitive spirit. “The board formed deep friendships,” Helga adds. “My best friends today are the people I met in Vaka,” she says.

“I learned far more in Vaka than I did in my university studies.

Writing speeches, practicing public speaking, fighting for what you believe in, gaining media attention, fundraising, building friendships, and having fun - it all happened through Vaka, where you meet people from all departements in the university,” she says. Helga considers her years in Vaka to be some of the best of her life.

Collaboration with the Rector Instead of Protests

The main issues at the time were student loans, student housing, and university funding, but student access cards were also a major topic during those years, says Helga.

At the time, the university was unwilling to allocate funding for this, so a few students, primarily from Vaka, took it upon themselves to make it a reality. She says that the Student Council developed the system around it, but eventually, the university took over, leading to the access system we know today.

“We tried to distinguish ourselves from Röskva by emphasizing that

in Vaka, actions speak louder than words,”says Helga, adding that while Röskva was more focused on protesting, Vaka considered what could be done and whom to approach.

She explains that Vaka’s leadership always sought to collaborate with the university rector and administration rather than oppose them. While Röskva organized protests outside the rector’s office, Vaka scheduled a meeting with him to discuss the issues at hand. “We wanted to take action,” she adds.

My time and experience in Vaka benefits me for life.

“Absolutely,” Helga says when asked if her experience in Vaka has benefited her since graduation. She believes Vaka taught her far more than textbooks ever could - it helped her build strong relationships, meet her best friends, and establish a professional network that she still benefits from today.

“That said, I have also encountered nice people today who were involved in Röskva. I have to admit, though we didn’t feel that way at the time, there were actually some decent people there,” she says with a smile.

“It Teaches You to Fight for What You Believe In” Asked what advice she would give to current Vaka members, Helga emphasizes the importance of remembering Vaka’s core values, democratic principles, and history.

She encourages everyone to get involved, saying that during her time

as chairperson, her life revolved around Vaka - so much so that she even delayed her graduation because she was so committed to her role.

“Everyone benefits from participating in student organizations, no matter how much or little they get involved,” she says. “It teaches you to fight for something you truly believe in.”

It’s important not to let your guard down.

“It’s important not to become complacent. It’s often easier to be on the offensive than to defend a position,” Helga says about Vaka currently holding the majority.

She stresses the importance of continuing the fight.

During her time in Vaka, Helga says there was a strong emphasis on keeping the organization politically neutral in terms of national politics.

“I think it’s crucial that Vaka remains open to everyone - that’s a principle I strongly believe in,” she states.

“We’re not in partypolitics - we’re in student advocacy. If too much focus is placed on external political issues, the actual fight for student interests could be forgotten,” she explains. While student advocacy naturally intersects with national politics, she believes it is essential to always keep the student perspective in mind.

Helga hopes her children will participate in student organizations when they go to university - and, ideally, that they will choose Vaka over Röskva. “The old Vaka heart still beats strong,” she concludes.

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

Student Politics to Parliament Birgir Ármannsson did not seek reelection in the recent parliamentary elections, marking the end of a political career in Alþingi that began in 2003 as a representative of the Independence Party. Like so many others, Birgir’s baptism into politics began in student politics. A former Vaka member, he served on the Student Council from 1989 to 1991 and was also part of Vaka’s executive board, where he held the position of editor for a time. Birgir agreed to an interview to discuss his time in Vaka.

“I started at the University of Iceland right after graduating from high school in 1988 and immediately got involved in Vaka. I knew many people who had been active in the organization, so I quickly began attending meetings and getting involved in the work. By the following spring, I was running for office,” Birgir said when asked about his first experiences with Vaka.

He served on the Student Council from 1989 to 1991 and was on Vaka’s executive board simultaneously.

In addition to this, Birgir was engaged in Heimdallur, the Young Independence Party association in Reykjavík, where he served as chairman, all while working as a journalist at Morgunblaðið. Due to his heavy workload, he resigned as Vaka’s editor after a few months but remained fully committed to his role in the Student Council.

Rebuilding the Vaka Headquarters After the Fire

Although Birgir was not in Vaka’s frontline leadership for long, he remained an active member and threw himself fully into election campaigns each spring. In 1989, when Birgir was elected to the Student Council, Vaka achieved a landslide victory, securing a commanding majority. The celebrations that followed went on well into the night. However, the next morning, Vaka members awoke to devastating news - there had been a fire at their headquarters. „Vaka had been in the majority the year before, but we had just won a major victory and gained additional representatives. There was a big celebration at Vaka’s headquarters, which at the time was located at Vatnsstígur. I don’t know exactly how it happened, but the next morning we received news that a fire had broken out. It was likely caused by embers catching onto a sofa - this was back when smoking indoors was common, including in Vaka’s headquarters,” Birgir recounted.

Despite this setback, Vaka members refused to be discouraged.

They rallied together and rebuilt their headquarters from the ground up.

Vaka Won and Vaka burned In 1989, Vaka’s headquarters burned down after the party’s monumental election win.

Birgir Ármannsson „We were fortunate to receive some insurance money. Additionally, we got strong financial support from former Vaka members, which allowed us to carry out necessary renovations. In every challenge, even in setbacks like this, there can be opportunities. This situation gave us the chance to renew and improve our facilities,” Birgir added.

A United Opposition Brings a Shift in Power

Today, student politics at the University of Iceland is primarily a two-party competition for the Student Council majority. However, when Birgir first got involved, three parties had been vying for power for several years. „There had traditionally been three groups in the Student Council.

First, there was Vaka, of course.

Then there was Félag vinstrimanna (The Association of Leftists), as they called themselves at the time.

We simply referred to them as the

‘commies’ - their leadership was made up of very radical leftists. The third group was Félag umbótasinna (The Reformists), which positioned itself in the center. Many of its leaders had ties to the Progressive Party.

During my time, Félag vinstri­ manna and Félag umbótasinna merged to form Röskva. That party only truly gained traction in the 1990–1991 academic year, and their growing strength led to them winning the elections in the spring of 1991. Naturally, this was a huge disappointment for us, but also a valuable learning experience,” Birgir said.

Keeping National Politics Out of the Student Council

Birgir recalled that during his time in Vaka, great emphasis was placed on drawing a clear line between national politics and student politics.

A recurring campaign slogan for Vaka was: “Keep politics out of the Student Council.” „We all had our own political views and beliefs. However, in this arena, we were there primarily to fight for student interests, and we were not going to waste time arguing about issues that belonged in Alþingi, municipal governments, or the United Nations. The leftists, in particular, wanted to use student politics to ‘save the world,’ but we believed that what was discussed in the Student Council was unlikely

to have much impact on global affairs. Instead, we focused on issues directly affecting students—student loans, education policies, housing, and the development of student residences.”

Internal & External Conflicts

Even though it was only student politics, Birgir said that the competition between the factions was often fierce. „This was a very intense political environment. While people did form friendships across party lines, election battles were hard-fought, and debates during campaign events could get extremely heated.”

The conflicts, however, were not limited to disputes between opposing factions. At times, there were also deep divisions within Vaka itself. „It was rare for internal elections to be held within the party, but there was often significant tension and factionalism. This affected both the composition of Vaka’s leadership and the selection of candidates for the Student Council elections. The intensity of these behind-the-scenes power struggles was sometimes just as fierce as our clashes with Félag vinstrimanna. However, everyone understood the importance of unity when it came time for the elections.

Despite internal disagreements, all members worked together to ensure a strong election result when the time came.”

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

Keeping Vaka’s History Alive Einar Arnalds Journalist of Glaðvakandi

invited for an interview, and then asked to join Vaka,” she adds.

María Rut Kristinsdóttir, the newest member of Vaka’s council, began studying at the University of Iceland in 2010, where she pursued psychology.

She got involved in Vaka early on and took a seat in the University Council in 2011 when elections were held for two-year terms. In 2012, she became a representative in the University Board while also serving on the Student Council. “I was then the leader of Vaka and the full-time president of the Student Council in 2013-2014,” María says, adding that she stepped down in the spring of 2014, having graduated in psychology in the meantime.

The Call Master María

“In my family, there was a lot of talk about Vaka and the importance of being in Vaka,”

In the fall of 2011, the Student Council, under Vaka’s leadership, protested student housing issues by setting up a tent camp outside the university’s main building. “Then I saw similar activism from Röskva a few years later, and it was said that nothing like this had been done before. I thought, well, we need to teach some history,” María says, emphasizing the importance of keeping the student movement’s history alive. “We need to talk more—those of us who are older and you who are new to this,” she adds, recalling when Vaka once lost an election by just six votes. That story was later used as motivation during phone campaigns.

she says, also mentioning that there was a strong emphasis on attending MR (Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík). “I just did what my family said—at least until I got a little older and started swimming against the current. But there was a lot of talk about student politics in my ears when I was in high school and how great a training ground it was.” In reality, nothing other than Vaka was ever an option for her, she adds.

Getting into student politics was a smart move

María had come from the Westfjords.

“I actually attended MR for two years, but then I got pregnant, went back home, and completed MÍ (Menntaskólinn á Ísafirði).” When it was time to go to university, she moved south again and talks about how it was a great idea to get involved in student politics to meet a diverse range of people—people she likely wouldn’t have encountered if she had only socialized within her department.

“In fact, I got a phone call, was

María was no newcomer to election campaigns. “I had dabbled in municipal politics in the Westfjords and helped with primaries for various family members, so I had made plenty of phone calls,” María says. She recalls that when she was in her first year at MR, a friend of her cousin Brynhildur was running in a primary election and had a campaign office on Suðurlandsbraut.

María was asked to make calls there.

“They were so clever to get a 16-yearold teenager to be enthusiastic about making calls. I became the call master of that campaign and spent all day on the phone—it was a great school for practice,” she says.

Keeping Vaka’s history alive

The Year Röskva Didn’t Call

In 2013, elections were held under new rules for the first time, introducing faculty-specific councils.

Before this, Student Council members were primarily law and political science students, but the changes aimed to bring in voices from all disciplines. “We were a bit worried whether Röskva would survive this or not. This was the year Röskva decided not to make election

María Rut Kristinsdóttir. calls,” María says. She believes political competition is important, as it’s no fun to compete only with oneself.

Not making calls is generally considered a poor campaign strategy, as phone outreach is a fundamental part of modern electioneering. “They felt it was disrespectful to disturb students with phone calls,” María says, explaining Röskva’s decision. In response, Vaka simply made even more calls and ended up winning with 78% of the vote. “That victory party... well, let’s just say it wasn’t boring.”

“It was Jóhann Páll, I can reveal that now—he’s my colleague today,” María says when asked who had decided that Röskva wouldn’t make calls that year.

The big issues were and still are student welfare

Press conference announcing the appeal in the loan fund case.

“If I looked at Vaka’s election pamphlet today, it would probably be almost identical to what it was back then. The big issues were student welfare,” María says when asked about Vaka’s priorities at the time, mentioning topics like registration fees and parking.

Considerable progress was made,

particularly in student loan policies, and Vaka also played a role in securing the construction of the Student Cellar (Stúdentakjallarinn).

When María became Student Council president in 2013, she had a great team. “The office was fantastic! We had a lot of diversity in our group. Our student rights representative was a law student, the vice president was a psychology student, and we had an engineer on the team,” she says, emphasizing how important it is to have a diverse team and how their different perspectives shaped their work.

Suing the government

In 2013, the Icelandic government changed, and Illugi Gunnarsson became Minister of Education.

“He made an absolutely ridiculous decision, supposedly for budgetary reasons, to tighten academic progress requirements for student loans. Previously, students needed to complete 18 ECTS credits per semester to qualify for loans, but he raised it to 22 with the stroke of a pen in late June. This was fiercely opposed, but it was set to take effect in August when many students had already planned their studies based on different rules. At the time, 68%

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

Kaffibolli og bók?

Gerist ekki betra

Bóksala stúdenta Vaka’s Pyjama Party.

Opið 9-17

SHÍ camps where student housing issues were protested. of courses were 10-credit courses, so if you were taking three 10-credit courses, you were suddenly required to maintain 100% progress instead of 78%,” María explains.

A lawyer contacted them and pointed out that this was a clear violation of administrative law. The Student Council, therefore, sued the government on behalf of students, with the support of all universities.

“It was argued that authorities cannot impose burdensome decisions on citizens with such short notice.” The case was fasttracked and received significant media attention, as it was a slow news season in July. “So I was in the media every day, the torchbearer for students. The government defended itself, and we had our day in court— ultimately, we won on August 30,” María says. Vaka celebrated the victory, and it was at that party that María met Ingileif, who is now her wife.

Fighting by day, babysitting by night Interestingly, María had a close family connection to Minister Illugi Gunnarsson. “His wife is my close cousin.” So, while battling him in the media during the day, she would babysit their daughter in the evenings. “He once told me: ‘María,

you are the president of the Student Council; you have your role. I am the Minister of Education; I have mine. In the public sphere, we go head-to-head like boxers in a ring, but we take off the gloves and move on outside of it.’” María says she is grateful to have learned this lesson early—that disagreements in politics should not be taken personally.

The Vaka spirit in Viðreisn

“In politics, regardless of party, it’s always an advantage if people have experience from student politics— the teamwork and organizational skills are invaluable,” María says. She believes that former Vaka members have carried its principles into various political parties, including Viðreisn, the Independence Party, and the Left-Greens. “There are Vaka alumni everywhere.”

Never lose the spirit!

María advises current Vaka members to never lose their enthusiasm. “There was a lack of energy in Vaka for a few years, but now the spirit is definitely back,” she says. “It’s important to take your role seriously, but also to have fun. If the atmosphere feels like a funeral, nobody wants to be part of that. These were good times,” María concludes.

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

Optime Natalis!

Fannar Gíslason Board Member Vaka is 90 years old. Never wake me up. It is simply incredible that this remarkable organization has been around for nearly a century. Just thinking about it blows my mind. I feel truly lucky to be part of this group and I stand proud in calling myself a Vökuliði.

Reaching 90 years is a huge milestone, whether you’re a person or an organization. That’s why we— friends of Vaka, family, Vökuliðar, and Vökustaurar—came together to celebrate this big anniversary in Gamla Bíó on February 8th.

Normally, 90th birthdays are dreadfully boring, but this one was definitely not going to be.

The preparations we went through leading up to this celebration were nothing short of an adventure. We spent a lot of time planning this event, and there was plenty to do. We had to book the

venue, buy decorations, prepare the birthday letters, secure raffle prizes, and plenty more. I was part of the mail delivery crew, which meant we had about 200 invitations to deliver to the homes of former Vökuliðar.

Honked at a suspected burglar

Just the other day, I found myself wandering around the streets of Hafnarfjörður, stuffing invitations into mailboxes. That probably didn’t look great—just some fully grown man in a long North Face coat and a Takk Takk cap, walking from door to door in broad daylight. But hey, we do what we must for Vaka. At one point, someone even whistled at me, like I was some stray dog, probably thinking I was trying to break in. My friends K. Leifur and Gunni Mogensen were also part of the delivery crew, and they were nearly arrested—just for delivering invitations at 3 AM on a weekday.

But honestly, this was just a drop in the ocean compared to everything we went through to organize the party of the year.

All the preparation was worth it, because when the night of the event finally arrived, everything looked straight out of a movie. The “90 Years” balloons decorated the entrance, champagne was flowing at the bar, delicious food covered the tables, and most importantly— everyone looked fucking sexy and ready for the night. At 7:30 PM, the doors were thrown open, and Vökuliðar and Vökustaurar of all ages poured in. They quickly filled the lobby of Gamla Bíó, and the conversations started flowing.

I personally ended up chatting with the vice chairman of Vaka from the 1960s, Reynir T., and our conversation covered just about everything. We talked about NATO and the U.S. military presence in Iceland, which was a hot topic among student organizations back in his day. I even told him that I genuinely cried when the Americans left Keflavík Air Base—because that meant the carnival tradition disappeared, and suddenly there was nowhere in Iceland to get a proper corn dog.

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Went home with a jam

At 8:00 PM, the doors to the main hall opened, and that’s when the real party started. There were speeches, people enjoying fancy appetizers, and the drinks kept flowing. After speeches from both past and present Vökuliðar, none other than Nonni Gnarr grabbed the microphone and took over as the host of Vaka’s raffle draw. He stormed across the stage, junk in his blood and blood in his junk, and completely hyped up the crowd.

Gunnar Ásgríms, our Menntavísindasvið representative, won the grand prize—a bottle of Moët champagne. But everyone there knew that the real grand prize was the brennivín and bacon jam from the Helvítis Kokkur. When the night finally came to an end, everyone went home happy—some even with a jar of bacon jam—and overall, it was a massive success.

And now? I simply cannot wait for Vaka’s 100th anniversary.

Vaka for 1000 years!

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

Vaka Fights for Student Rights Eiríkur Kúld Viktorsson Student Council Representative The medical and physiotherapy entrance exam is among the largest exams held in Iceland. A total of 363 people took the entrance exam in 2024, hoping to secure a spot in the prestigious and highly regarded programs at the University of Iceland. It is evident that the competition is fierce, as there are only about 110 seats available—75 in medicine and 35 in physiotherapy.

Students from Rural Areas Pay the Price

Due to the way the exam is structured, candidates must travel to Reykjavík to sit for the test. The exam is divided into six sections, taken over two days. Not only do students from rural areas have to cover travel and accommodation costs, but there have also been cases where entire groups of candidates

have missed the exam due to weather conditions and canceled flights.

The exam is a physical, inperson test, administered through the digital exam platform Inspera, meaning it could theoretically be held anywhere as long as there are proctors and appropriate facilities available. Is it not obvious that the exam should be offered in locations beyond the capital?

This Spring, the Exam Will Also Be Held in Akureyri

On November 12, the University of Iceland’s Student Council approved my proposal that the council should advocate for the medical and physiotherapy entrance exams to be held in more locations than just Reykjavík. This initiative was followed up by the Student Council’s office, under the leadership of Vaka, the association of democratic students, and it is a great pleasure to announce that this spring, the entrance exam for medicine and physiotherapy will also be held in Akureyri.

This is a major victory for student rights, but it is by no means the final victory. Many students still have to endure long journeys and pay significant amounts to chase their dreams. Vaka and I will continue to push for the exams to be held in more locations. Towns such as Ísafjörður, Egilsstaðir, and Höfn in Hornafjörður have experience in providing university services and handling exam administration in cooperation with the University of Iceland.

There is a staffing crisis in rural healthcare facilities, so why are we not recruiting people where they already live? The fact that the entrance exam will next be held in both Akureyri and Reykjavík is a huge win for rural students, and the goal is to expand it to even more locations in the future.

This is yet another example of the fact that Vaka gets things done, and we in Vaka will continue to fight for real, tangible student interests.

Vaka is on Instagram!

@vaka.fls

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

Ode to The University of Iceland Júlíus Viggó Ólafsson Chairman of Vaka When I enrolled at UI, it was a fairly easy and unexciting decision. A good education, a reputable university with deep roots in Icelandic society, and new opportunities. It also meant moving to Reykjavík from Sandgerði, which, to say the least, was an exciting bonus to my decision. But my expectations weren’t particularly high. Just study, study, study, so I could become an economist and then get to work. Pretty sterile.

Now, I’m in my third year and hopefully approaching the sunset of my university journey—at least when it comes to my bachelor’s degree.

Looking back, I’m surprised by what has truly stayed with me, what I have come to cherish the most about my time at university.

Because, while education is important, I wouldn’t say I love academia. I don’t wake up every morning excited to sit hunched over a desk in Oddi or Lögberg, listening to a dry lecture on price elasticity or—God help me—the programming language R. And yet, I love the

university. How is that possible?

The thing is, I fell in love during my years here. Not with a woman, unfortunately (though I am still formally on the market), but with the university community itself.

Few things in my life have been as rewarding as meeting all the people who live and breathe on campus and in the surrounding streets of Reykjavík. People who share the desire to strive for more—for themselves and for others. Who want to squeeze the most out of life, to leave behind more than what was handed to them when they arrived.

Jokers, intellectuals, philosophers, eccentrics, and the occasional madman.

There is so much vibrancy here—young people on all kinds of career paths. I will miss grabbing a quick Háma coffee between classes with my fellow students. I will miss dragging myself down to the Student Cellar after a long day to get The Rector with sweet potato fries and Korean BBQ in good company. I will miss cramming in the library with my brothers and sisters, praying for yet another academic miracle. I will miss going on company visits, drinking my way downtown, and spinning the disco ball at Röntgen. I will miss showing up to the university gym in

Skechers and zippered shorts—and no one caring. I will miss watching Gylfi Zoega grab yet another Pepsi Max during a break. And I will miss being able to call myself part of a greater community within the walls of UI. I don’t quite know how to put it into words, but the university community reminds me of a smallscale version of the cultural and intellectual melting pots that formed in the great cities of Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries—places like Vienna, Paris, or Prague. A little hub of diverse characters, many of

whom will undoubtedly leave an incredible mark on Icelandic society in the future, in ways we cannot yet predict. When I am an old man, I think I will look back on this time as one of the most remarkable periods of my life.

Thank you, University of Iceland.

Thank you for welcoming me with open arms but not holding my hand like a child. Thank you for letting me etch my name in tiny letters onto the vast walls of your history. Thank you for being the place where I grew the most.

Thank you.

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

Exemplary Solidarity In Vaka Signý Pála Pálsdóttir Board Member Hildur Björnsdóttir was President of the Student Council 2009-2010 for Vaka

How did you get involved with Vaka?

At that time, the system was to elect a new board in the spring but bring in two newcomers to the board in the fall. I’m not sure if this system is still in place, but it was a great way to recruit people who hadn’t even started university when the original board was elected. I joined this way in the fall of 2007, during my second year of law and political science studies. The then-chair of Vaka, Helga Lára Haarde, reached out to me, and we met at the restaurant Caruso, where we sealed the deal with a handshake. From that moment on, there was no turning back!

Can you describe your years in Vaka—how did it go?

My years in Vaka were the most memorable, educational, and enjoyable of my university life. I formed friendships that will last a lifetime. I ran in second place on the candidate list for the Student Council elections in 2008, which we lost by just six votes. That was probably one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in politics—it really showed that every vote matters!

At that time, the structure of the Student Council was a bit different from today. Members were elected from both junior and senior years.

In 2009, I ran for a senior-year position in the Student Council.

This was during the financial crash, and there was a significant leftward political shift in the country. Vaka had worked hard in previous years to distance itself from all political parties, and we were very firm and honest about that. Many of my fellow Vaka members later joined parties across the spectrum, from the Left-Greens to Reform and the Progressive Party. However, there was always a public perception that linked Vaka to the Independence Party. Given the leftward shift, no one expected Vaka to win the 2009 elections.

We borrowed a campaign headquarters on Austurstræti, right when the so-called “pots and pans revolution” was happening at Austurvöllur. Protesters gathered daily, shouting at Parliament, lighting fires, and eventually setting the Christmas tree in the square on fire. We could hear the

protests from our headquarters, and when they chanted “Vanhæf Ríkisstjórn,” we jokingly heard “Vaka í ríkisstjórn,” which only motivated us more. One morning, we arrived to find a sign on our door reading, “Here, the next generation of self-inflicted misery is plotting against the Icelandic nation.” In the middle of our campaign, the government collapsed. This captures the atmosphere of the time and why no one believed a student movement with perceived ties to the Independence Party could win.

But we didn’t let any of that stop us. We had strong policies and, just as importantly, we focused on making the campaign fun and reviving social activities. We went from hosting small parties in our campaign headquarters to organizing huge events in downtown clubs, where people waited in line for 30-40 minutes just to get in. Ultra Mega Technobandið Stefán played for us—they weren’t well-known back then, but they were fantastic, knew how to hype up a crowd, and, most importantly, were willing to perform for free.

The energy and excitement were on our side, and somehow, we got the student community to rally behind us. On election night, when the results were announced at our headquarters on Austurstræti, the place erupted—we had won by 200 votes. It was, without a doubt, one of the most unforgettable nights of my life.

What positions did you hold, and how did that go?

I first joined Vaka’s board in the fall of 2007 and then ran for Student Council in 2008. We lost that election by six votes, which was a valuable learning experience. I then joined the Student Council, serving on its board and various committees.

In 2009, after winning the election, I was elected chairman of the Student Council (now called “president”).

I was also on the board of the Student Council, the board of the Student Housing Foundation, and participated in various university and ministry working groups.

What was your journey to becoming Vaka’s leader like, and what was it like managing the campaign and Student Council?

How was your experience as SHÍ president?

I was elected leader after the 2009 elections when I started my senior year on the Student Council.

We held a general meeting where all active Vaka members could vote for a leader from among our elected representatives. If I remember correctly, I received all but one vote, which meant a lot to me.

We in Vaka took our work very seriously—we lived and breathed

Hildur Björnsdóttir was President of the Student Council 2009-2010 for Vaka. student advocacy, and nothing was more important to us. We wanted to do a good job. Leadership wasn’t about one person—it was a collaborative effort by the great team we had at the time. That teamwork was likely the key to our success—so many people gave it their all and worked together towards victory, first in the election and later in student advocacy.

What were the main student issues during your time in student politics?

We took over the Student Council in the middle of the financial crisis, and students were facing high unemployment. We conducted a survey that revealed alarming unemployment rates among students. As a response, we pushed for summer semesters at the university, allowing students to graduate faster and enter the job market sooner. But this required allowing students to take student loans over the summer. At that time, Katrín Jakobsdóttir was the Minister of Education, and we pushed her hard on this issue. We confronted her after government meetings, challenged her in the media, and protested outside Parliament. After a tough fight, we secured nearly a billion ISK in funding for summer semesters, which became eligible for student loans. That was a hardfought but rewarding victory.

There was strong student activism at the time, and we used creative methods to draw attention to our causes. For example, parking fees were about to be introduced at the university’s Skeifan lot. Students opposed this, so we launched a campaign using fake parking tickets.

We printed protest messages on ticket-like slips, put them in plastic sleeves, and placed them under car wipers. Röskva members followed behind us, removing them, and this back-and-forth went on for days.

We also introduced online voting for the Student Council.

Many older Vaka members were strongly opposed, but we didn’t back down. We developed a voting system within the university’s online portal, Uglan, which, as far as I know, has worked well ever since.

Making democratic participation more accessible has always been important to me.

Another initiative I’m proud of is the heated bus shelter we installed on Hringbraut in collaboration with Orkusalan. The city had debated heated shelters for years but had made no progress. With some creativity and determination, we got it done in just a few weeks. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a step in the right direction. It’s incredible that, 15 years later, there still isn’t a proper heated shelter for university students!

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

Member of Vaka Hildur was voted Chairman of Vaka in 2009.

Did your interest in politics start there?

Absolutely. We were so passionate about these projects—we would lose sleep over something as small as a missing sandwich grill in VRII or a power strip in Oddi. It’s funny to look back on, but we genuinely cared. In later jobs, I often felt that I lacked that same fire. It wasn’t until I entered city politics that I found that passion again. There’s something incredibly rewarding about working on issues you deeply care about.

How has your experience from SHÍ and Vaka helped you in city politics and your work today?

My experience in student politics was invaluable. I gained extensive

Role Model Hildur says that Vaka’s solidarity is better than in most “real” politics.

media and debate training, learned to work with large groups, organize campaigns, and find creative ways to draw attention to causes.

How is student politics similar to or different from “real” politics?

The best part about my years in Vaka was the unity. We were all pulling in the same direction, and we had a clear opponent—Röskva.

We sometimes disagreed internally, but we always resolved things amicably. When I moved into “real” politics, I was surprised to see how many people seek out enemies within their own parties instead of uniting against opposing ideas. I think political parties could benefit from being a little more like Vaka!

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

Life is Too Short for Grudges

Participants in social and political workÞór Egill must, Jónsson as a collective, reflect the diversity of people. Only then does the work bear fruit and fulfill its purpose, regardless of the organization. This applies to labor movements, political parties, interest groups, or any other form of association. The key is that different types of people are needed to make things work—introverts and extroverts, experts in various fields, individuals from different backgrounds and perspectives.

Diversity is essential.

One of the most important qualities in social work is the ability to attract people, to be approachable, and to communicate with everyone—both allies and opponents. We have never met anyone better at this than Egill Þór Jónsson, chairman of Vaka from 2015 to 2016.

Those who had the fortune of attending the University of Iceland with Egill Þór know the honorable man he was. He touched the lives of many during his time at the university and was the heart and

soul of every gathering. He was, simply put, the best person to have at a party.

Egill Þór Jónsson began studying sociology at the University of Iceland in 2012. He was elected chairman of Norm, the association for sociology students, from 2013-2014 and secured the top spot on Vaka’s list in the 2014 Student Council elections. Following this, he served on the Student Council and chaired the SHÍ Finance and Employment Committee. After the 2015 Student Council elections, he was elected chairman of Vaka, leading the organization with the following board members: Egill Þ. Jónsson, Chairman Ragnheiður H. Haraldsdóttir, Vice Chairman Laufey R. Þorsteinsdóttir, Treasurer Bergþór Bergsson, Secretary Hilmar Ö. Hergeirsson, Publishing Manager Halldóra F. Jónsdóttir, Entertainment Manager Inga M. Hlíðar Thorsteinsson Guðmundur Snæbjörnsson Sigmar A. Ólafsson María B. Einarsdóttir Sunneva B. Gunnarsdóttir Tómas I. Shelton Eiður S. Eiðsson Tinna Níelsdóttir Egill Þór fulfilled his duties as chairman of Vaka with excellence, ensuring the internal operations of the association ran smoothly, recruiting new members, and leading the election campaign. The results of the 2016 Student Council elections saw Vaka win 17 seats, while Röskva secured 10.

During Egill Þór’s tenure, the Student Council office was staffed by Aron Ólafsson (Chairman), Áslaug Björnsdóttir (Vice Chairman), Tryggvi Másson (Student Interests and Loan Fund Representative), and Kristófer Már Maronsson (Executive Director).

Beyond traditional student advocacy and rights protection, the Student Council’s key initiatives included securing funding for 400 new student apartments, which were later built near Gamli Garður.

The fight against the University’s registration fee, which had been declared illegal, continued under his leadership. Additionally, new legislation for the Icelandic Student Loan Fund was in progress, alongside Vaka’s core advocacy issues, such as rescheduling sick exams for social sciences students and increasing students’ income exemption thresholds in relation to loans.

The Student Council also played a role in establishing the General Housing System, collaborating with the Student Housing Foundation, which led to increased construction of student housing in subsequent years. Jón Atli Benediktsson took office as Rector of the University of Iceland in 2015, and Vaka focused on strengthening the Student Council’s relationship with the rector, following its policy of working with the university on student matters rather than opposing it. Around the same time, the National Union of Icelandic Students was founded, and the Student Council actively participated in its formative years—a

role it continues to hold.

Egill Þór had a deep interest in people and human behavior, befitting his background as a sociologist. This made him exceptional at identifying individuals’ strengths, encouraging them, and engaging them in participation.

Everyone who knew Egill Þór agrees that he possessed a rare quality—he genuinely cared about everything and everyone, regardless of who they were or where they came from. He always took an interest in people’s journeys and aspirations. He truly cared for those around him.

Egill Þór was an extraordinary leader, drawing people in with his warmth, wit, and optimism. He often used the Icelandic phrase “þetta reddast” (“it will all work out”)—and in his case, it always did.

Even the most difficult situations seemed to resolve in his favor. His life philosophy was that life is too short for grudges and unnecessary troubles, and he was always lighthearted, finding humor even in tough situations—though he could also be firm when needed. His leadership has left a lasting impact on many.

Egill Þór only took on projects he truly believed in, an admirable trait in a leader. However, his primary focus was always ensuring that people felt good in their work, creating a sense of security and belonging. This is one of the reasons why so many were drawn to him.

He strongly believed in respectful political discourse and avoided speaking ill of opponents during election campaigns and student council work. He was an excellent listener, always showing respect for differing opinions—even when he completely disagreed with them.

In 2021, Egill Þór was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

A long and difficult battle followed, which he courageously fought until his passing on December 20, 2024. Throughout his illness, he underwent numerous treatments both in Iceland and abroad. He fought like a lion, maintaining his trademark positivity—still finding room for humor even in the face of serious illness.

Egill Þór married Inga María Hlíðar Thorsteinsson on April 22, 2023. The two first met while serving together on Vaka’s board.

They had two children: Aron Trausti (born 2019) and Sigurdis (born 2021).

The Vaka community and his friends mourn his loss deeply.

On behalf of all those who worked with Egill Þór Jónsson in Vaka, Jón Birgir Eiríksson and Jónína Sigurðardóttir

WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

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WEDNESDAY, FEB 26

The Student Council President

“My main goal is to improve students’ experience at the university” Hannes Lúðvíksson Editor of Glaðvakandi “My main goal is to improve students’ experience at the university” Arent Orri J. Claessen took over as President of the Student Council of the University of Iceland on May 21st. It is safe to say that he has not been idle since then, as the position of SHÍ President is highly significant.

One of his first tasks was preparing and organizing the annual Oktoberfest of the Student Council, but Arent quickly realized that there was a great need to restructure various aspects of the festival. The reorganization proved highly successful, with the festival generating a profit of approximately 30 million ISK. In comparison, under the previous Röskva-led administration, the festival’s profits ranged from just 18,000 to 28,000 ISK in 2018 and 2019.

Reviewing the Operation of Oktoberfest

“The first thing that becomes apparent when you take over is that we are organizing the secondlargest outdoor festival in Iceland in September.

I started by looking into how things had been done before through contractors and discovered that an agreement had been signed with them just a week before the elections. In other words, the President of the Student Council had signed a binding four-year contract with these parties just a week before the elections.

Firstly, there is nothing in the association’s regulations that allows the President or the Board to bind the Student Council in this manner— this was neither discussed with the Board nor presented to the Student Council. Under this contract, the Student Council only received 7% of Oktoberfest ticket sales, while all on-site revenue, sponsorships, and 93% of ticket sales went to the contractors.

The former President justified this by saying it was a good deal

PUBLISHER Vaka, félag lýðræðissinnaðra stúdenta

since the Student Council bore no financial risk. But to me, this is like hiring a builder to construct a house for me, which he then gets to sell while paying me a small commission—this is not a reasonable contractor agreement. The profits were simply being handed over. Still, I wanted to start fresh negotiations with them and secure a bigger slice of the pie—this is our cake.

I had to be persistent for months just to get some cost figures from them. The Excel sheet I eventually received was in terrible shape, with seven figures rounded to the nearest million. For one particular year, “miscellaneous” was the largest expense item in the accounts, amounting to about 65% of costs—tens of millions of ISK labeled simply as “miscellaneous” with no explanations.”

Thus, the newly elected Board was given an opportunity to prove itself by tackling this issue head-on.

Naturally, significant interests were at stake, as the festival is the largest source of revenue for the Student Council, making it crucial to restore the event to a more sustainable financial position.

The Most Environmentally Friendly Outdoor Festival in Iceland

“This was a huge risk for me as President. After years of effort, we had finally secured a majority, and I didn’t want to drive SHÍ into bankruptcy by mishandling this festival. Then I started noticing some peculiar practices, such as the festival always being held on a grass area that was a bird nesting site.

So, we decided to move the festival to the gravel lot in front of the university.

There was also a lack of electricity, and I discovered that diesel generators had always been used. I felt we could do better. I spoke with the City of Reykjavík about installing a power line, but that didn’t go anywhere. However, we managed to connect to a power distribution box and use battery storage instead.

Additionally, there was no access to water on-site, so we installed water

SUPERVISIION Sæþór Már Hinriksson

EDITORIAL BOARD Dagur Kárason Drífa Lýðsdóttir Elín Karlsdóttir Fannar Gíslason Kjartan Leifur Sigurðsson Tinna Eyvindardóttir Signý Pála Pálsdóttir

DESIGN AND LAYOUT Eva Sóldís Bragadóttir

PRINTING Landsprent

EDITOR Hannes Lúðvíksson

Arent Orri J. Claessen is President of The Student Council tanks where people could refill their glasses. This was also the first time that all waste from the festival was sorted for recycling. To the best of my knowledge, this was the most environmentally friendly outdoor festival in Iceland, and we aim to make it even greener next year.”

“My Main Goal Is to Improve Students’ Experience at the University”

With the newfound profit from the festival, a unique opportunity arose to revive the tradition of hosting an annual student ball, which had not been held for many years.

“Someone told me that the last time this happened was before the financial crash. At the very least, it hasn’t been held during our time at the university. My main goal is to improve students’ experience at the university. Students need to feel like they are part of the university community, not just confined to their respective departments.

We try to hold regular events in the university square to bring more life to the campus. I wanted to host a student ball inspired by Reykjavík University’s annual tradition. So,

we booked the Valsheimilið venue, and thanks to the profits from Oktoberfest, we can put real effort into this event.

I made one mistake, though—I promised that tickets wouldn’t cost more than 10,000 ISK. So, we set the price at 9,900 ISK, which includes dinner and a party—something you won’t find elsewhere today. We even booked GUSGUS as an example.”

Beyond improving student life, Arent also emphasizes the importance of enhancing overall quality of life within the university.

The campus environment should serve everyone, and students should feel comfortable there.

“This discussion has been somewhat overlooked in recent years—small things matter. In November, we received complaints that it was too cold inside the university and that some areas were too dark to read in. So, we bought small portable electric heaters that people can move around and about 25 lamps, which we distributed throughout the school. These are the things that shouldn’t be forgotten in the broader struggle for student interests,“ Arent concludes