As the year presents itself to us with quite a chill (and, thankfully, plenty of sunshine), we as USC are already almost halfway through. A new year, but an old USC, in other words. The holiday break has recharged our batteries and with the experience we have gained over the past few months, we are picking up our projects again. In addition, there is also the infamous exam period ahead, so it will undoubtedly be a busy month.
Reflection
Busy or not, such a start of the year invites reflection on what we have been doing as USC in the past weeks. In December, for instance, we concluded a cycle with the consultative meeting (ovGV) and the concluding joint meeting (AGV), during which we had discussions with the Works Council (OR) and the Executive Board. Here, topics such as the budget and social safety were on the table. Among other things, it emerged that the university is facing financially lean years and that the charcoal sketch of social safety so far gives little insight into what the plans are to make the university a safer place. In any case, as USC, we want to continue our efforts to make social safety a reality here. For example, the Wellbeing and Inclusion working group is creating a wellbeing roadmap, which should make seeking help more accessible and clear.
In addition, the Joint Assembly (GV) also discussed the decoupling of co-determination from board months, agendaised by the USR through a memorandum. With this proposal, we hope to achieve higher compensation for employee participation and thus make it more accessible. The GV did not turn out to be very satisfactory, and we therefore remain committed to stronger employee participation at the university.
Expectations
With almost half of our term as USR behind us, December was also the time to reflect on our internal working arrangements and expectations. Together, we discussed the expectations we have of each other and of the USR as a whole, and looked at what worked, and what did not. This worked very enlightening and ensures that we are mostly on the same page now that we are starting again. That same day, we additionally closed the year with a joint and very cosy Christmas lunch, where mimosas, Christmas lights and tasty sandwiches were not to be missed. That lunch, as well as the moment of reflection, made us start January as a strong group. The coming weeks therefore promise to be not only very busy, but also very enjoyable!
If you would like to know more about the USR and what we all do, or if you have ideas/comments about bigger themes within the university that play within your student group: follow us on Instagram or send an email to USR [at] ru.nl (USR[at]ru[dot]nl)!
Vera Joosten (Knokpartij)
Jasmijn de Groot (PoCo BOS)
