In the spring, the run-up to the council elections proved extremely difficult. Initially, this resulted in the postponement of the elections until June. Subsequently, four student parties competed for seats, but there was a lack of interest among staff and the elections were cancelled. The result: the eight remaining employee candidates were allocated a seat.
The first meeting in the new formation, last September, was a wake-up call, says University Council chairman Herbert Wormeester. 'We reached the quorum (minimum number of people present for a legally valid vote, ed.), because one member of staff was ill and one was absent for personal reasons. That is far too fragile a situation, which is why we said: we need a by-election.'
Another factor is that an extra seat will be freed up because council member Ewert Aukes recently withdrew. He could not combine his work with sitting in the Council.
The new elections only apply to the two vacant seats. Interested parties have until next Monday, 5 p.m. to register. The elections will take place – as usual digitally – in the week of 7 December. 'We are hopeful that we will be able to find enough enthusiastic candidates for these elections', says Wormeester.
