Mid-Week Mail, week 12

WHAT IS MID-WEEK MAIL?

Mid-Week Mail is a bi-monthly news and events e-mail for the international students of the University of Turku. Aside from being an important up-to-date news source concerning Student Union, university and student issues, Mid-Week Mail also gives you current information on different events and activities organised by TYY (the Student Union of the University of Turku), the TYY Committees and other TYY affiliates.

In this mail:

• ISTU’S 1st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF 2010 – CALL FOR BOARD MEMBERS
• TYY IS SEARCHING FOR NEW MEMBERS FOR TYY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND TYY COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL ISSUES
• ENGLISH-WRITING COLUMNISTS NEEDED
• HYY AND TYY: FINNISH UNIVERSITIES DO NOT NEED DEVELOPMENT AID
• ÅAS AND TYY OFFER BUS TRANSPORTATION TO A DEMONSTRATION FOR FREE EDUCATION
• NYYTI HANGOUT MARCH 30
• APRILLIROCK
• TYY COMMITTEE MEETINGS

ISTU’S 1st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF 2010 – CALL FOR BOARD MEMBERS

The ISTU  Board is pleased to announce the ISTU's 1st Annual General Meeting of 2010 on April 6th at 18 in Turku-Sali (Second floor, Student House A).

Foremost of concern at this meeting will be the creation of a new board to guide ISTU in the coming year. The board is made up of up to 6 members who will be elected at the meeting.

More information at http://www.tyy.fi/tapahtumat/2010/1093?lang=en

TYY IS SEARCHING FOR NEW MEMBERS FOR TYY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND TYY COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL ISSUES

The Student Union of the University of Turku is searching for new members for TYY Committee on Environmental Issues and TYY Committee on Cultural Issues

There are seven committees in the Student Union of the University of Turku: TYY Committee on Sub-Organisations, TYY Committee on Student Affairs, TYY Committee on Development Cooperation, TYY Committee on International Affairs, TYY Committee on Cultural Issues, TYY Student Cafeteria Committee and TYY Committee on Environmental Issues. Each committee acts a link between the members of TYY, the Student Union Council, the Executive Board and TYY staff members.

Free-form applications must be submitted to the TYY Service Desk (Rehtorinpellonkatu 4 A, 20500 Turku) or by e-mail tyy-kanslia@utu.fi no later than on Friday, 29 March by 12.00.

New members will be selected during week 13.

More information on committees:

TYY Committee on Environmental Issues, chair Nuppu Ervasti nsmerv@utu.fi
http://www.tyy.fi/in-english/student-union/tyy-committees/committee-envi...

TYY Committee on Cultural Issues, chair Elina Ahtela
elina.ahtela@utu.fi
http://www.tyy.fi/in-english/student-union/tyy-committees/tyy-committee-...

ENGLISH-WRITING COLUMNISTS NEEDED

As you may have noticed, there’s now an English column in Turun ylioppilaslehti (the students’ newspaper).

If you are interested in writing in Turun ylioppilaslehti, please contact me and write a short example text (maximum 2500 characters) about a topic interesting for both Finnish and foreign students (studying in Finland/abroad/in university, current news, culture differences, something about your homeland…).

Turun ylioppilaslehti pays a small reward for published texts.

Anna-Elina Matilainen
editor-in-chief
Turun ylioppilaslehti
tyl-paatoimittaja@utu.fi

HYY AND TYY: FINNISH UNIVERSITIES DO NOT NEED DEVELOPMENT AID

The comment has been published in Helsingin Sanomat 22.3.2010

The Government of Finland will determine significant policies concerning development cooperation funds when discussing the framework of national economy for the years 2011-2014 on 23 March 2010. HYY and TYY are concerned about loosening the criteria for Finnish development aid and particularly about including student expenses in the official development aid of Finland.

There is an ongoing discussion about tuition fees for students from outside the EU/EEA countries. In this context emerged the idea of using development aid for the grants of low-income students from developing countries in Finnish universities. A grant system which is covered by development aid would not benefit developing countries. It would be direct income transfer from the state to Finnish universities. Education is undoubtedly an important part of development cooperation but the main beneficiary should not be the Finnish higher education institutions.

The most concerning matter in this development is the import of the most talented students from developing countries into Finland. It cannot be guaranteed that students would return to their home countries after studies and we cannot determine an individual's future plans. Students from developing countries would be encouraged to return at the same time when Finland desperately calls for international labour force to its labour market.

Finland is committed to raise development aid to the level recommended by the UN - 0.7 per cent of gross national income - by 2015. Covering student expenses from the development cooperation funds is an artificial exaggeration of this percentage, which does not actually increase the amount of development cooperation and the aid. Development aid must continue to focus on reducing poverty in developing countries. The official development aid must not have financial interest to Finland.

HYY and TYY are setting an example by using 0.7 % of their operating budgets for development cooperation. 
 
THE STUDENT UNION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI
Katri Korolainen-Virkajärvi, Chairperson of the board
 
THE STUDENT UNION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TURKU
Elias Laitinen, Chairperson of the board

ÅAS AND TYY OFFER BUS TRANSPORTATION TO A DEMONSTRATION FOR FREE EDUCATION

The National Union of Finnish University Students (SYL) and the Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (SAMOK) will be holding a demonstration together for free education in Helsinki 21 April starting at 12.00.

Students from all around Finland will take part in this demonstration. TYY and the Student Union of Åbo Academi University want to help ensure free education and also give students in Turku the opportunity to participate in the demonstration held in Helsinki. TYY and ÅAS will provide their members with bus service to Helsinki.

The buses will leave for Helsinki on Wednesday morning at 09.00 from Cathedral Square and return  after the demonstration on the same buses.

RSVP on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=101604316542722&ref=nf

OR

Sign up by e-mail at: tyy-kopo@utu.fi

Please note! Sign up either by Facebook RSVP or by e-mail, NOT both.

NYYTI HANGOUT MARCH 30

Do you want to meet new people? Interested in laidback discussion, playing boardgames or billiard?

Student Unions of University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University arrange Hangouts where everyone are welcome! Nyyti Hangouts have no strict program – just come and join the group’s discussion, find someone to talk to, or take part in activities around the current theme. There are no expectations – you can make the evening what you want it to be.

The whole evening is alcohol-free: we offer you coffee and tea.

Hangouts this spring:
- Tue 30 March from 17.00 to 20.00. By ÅAS at Kåren.
- Tue 27 April from 17.00 to 20.00. By TYY, place to be announced later.

More information:
Secretary for Social Affairs
tyy-soposihteeri@utu.fi

APRILLIROCK

Aprillirock 2010 - Turku is ablaze

March 31st students from Turku university rise on the stage @ House of Dance to perform the fruits of their souls to the festive crowds. A wide variety of music is offered by five different bands/performers.

The best performer will entertain hundreds of festive people @ TYY's May Day Picnic!!

The event will begin at 8 p.m.

After the performers a DJ will look after the groove for the rest of the evening.

Tickets: 2e
On Stage:

    * All The Proof You Need
      [http://www.myspace.com/alltheproofyouneed]
    * Corona Skies
      [http://www.myspace.com/coronaskies]
    * Lenny Pearl
      [http://www.myspace.com/lennypearl]
    * MBoost
      [http://www.myspace.com/mboostband]
    * Ukkivainaa
      [http://www.myspace.com/ukkivainaa]

Hence, there will be a musical extravaganza which you have never before experienced!

Beverages are sold @ student friendly prices during the entire evening.

TYY COMMITTEE MEETINGS

• TYY Committee on International Affairs, Friday, 27 March at 11.00, Turku-sali.
• TYY Committee on Cultural Affairs, Monday, 29 March at 18.00, Proffan Kellari, small cabinet.