News in English

University renovation still needs repair

The UniversityÂ’s newly renovated premises have been leaking during the entire autumn term. The latest dirty brown coloured leak marks can be detected in the new corridor in the main building. Also, the TV studio and Radio Moreeni have been having trouble with wrong sorts of clocks and lamps.

The University construction architect Taina Vimpari admits that there have been more problems than is usual, especially in the A wing.

The roof of the new corridor began to leak for the first time in early autumn. The leak was first detected by the window. Also, some of the melt water was dripping into three offices at the department of Social Policy in the Linna building.
The main constructor of the Linna building is NCC Construction Ltd. Chief of construction Timo Rajala estimates that the damages cost about 1000-2000 euros.

Tamy makes an appeal for Kino-Palatsi

Tamy has demanded that the city takes action to preserve the internal architecture of the cinema Kino-Palatsi. The Tamy Board of Executives commented on the matter in its meeting on 7th December.

The Board of Executives argues that the preservation of the interior rooms of public and private buildings is an integral part of the preservation of local cultural heritage. Kino-Palatsi was opened in 1929. The current owner of the theatre is planning to convert the building into a restaurant. The comment of the Board of Executives has not received the unanimous support of the Student Union. Complaints have been made at the Tamy forum because the Board of Executives is commenting on the matter on behalf of all students, even though the matter does not directly concern it.

The student grant will not rise next year

The parliamentary groups of the parties in power have decided not the raise the study grant. The study grant for students in institutions for higher education has not been raised in 15 years, and its real value has gone down by 20 percent.

“Our next goal is to get the raising of the study grant into the government programme. We have been promised that even though study grant will not be raised now, it will be raised next year," explains Liisa Selvenius from the executive board of the National Union of Students in Finland, SYL.

This year, student unions have actively campaigned in order to get a 15 percent raise to the study grant.

Changes in major subject costly for the University

Last year, the University of Tampere lacked 100 new master’s degrees from the quota set by the Ministry of Education. This cost the University approximately 850 000 euros. “One clear reason for the fact that not enough student are graduating are students who change their major subject," explains DS Coordinator Mikko Markkola. A student does not lose their previous study right when they receive another one. The faculties that lose the most students due to changes in major subject are the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Information Sciences. Next summer, the Faculty of Humanities will give admission to 35 students more than before. The Faculty of Information Sciences will have a bigger quota for special admissions.

Future activities will affect financial aid given to student organisations

Tamy is planning to change the grounds for allocating financial aid. Plans for future activities will have more effect than before. This means that from now on, all applications for financial aid must include a plan of action and a budget for the following year. “Allocating money according to what has been done is basically a matter of rewarding or punishing. The new way permits new people involved in the organisation’s activities to have more effect on the received sum," explains Janne Santala from the Tamy Secretariat.

New factors affecting the sum given are economy, planning, development and documentation. Tamy also has grounds for allocating financial aid for clubs and other organisations.

Tamy offices on Christmas holiday from 16th December to 7th January

The Tamy offices will be closed from 16th December to 7th January due to Christmas holiday. During this time, it will not be possible to borrow money through the Quick-cash help, rent the Student Union van or to benefit from any other general or economical service provided by Tamy. The offices will open again on 8th January at nine oÂ’clock.

Teaching at the University of Tampere will begin on 8th January and end on 18th May 2007.

The editorial staff of Aviisi will also be on Christmas holiday after the publication of this issue. Next year, the first issue of Aviisi will come out on 18th January. From next year on, Aviisi will publish 17 issues per year. Since the editorial staff will be employed all year round from next year on, a special freshman issue of Aviisi will come out on 26th July and will be sent to all students accepted into the University.

Translations: Reija Kontio