Municipality: “Should student unions organize events in public places?”

The city council is questioning whether student unions should organize events in public spaces.

This is evident from the council letter Mayor Quinn Shuiling sent to City Council on Tuesday
In his council speech, Schuyling cites events outside the assembly building. “Is it advisable for student associations to organize events in public places, if only available to students of the association,” the mayor wrote. “Associations have the community at their disposal. However, events often have a different environment in the event and associations or other entities within the community are also allowed to do so. We are thinking about the desirability of the events and also looking at additional conditions that should apply during the events.”

Professional event organizer
Schueling wrote that he wanted to talk to student union boards about the mandatory participation of a professional event organizer in semi-large events. Or impose additional obligations in the field of mobility and transportation. “We see that events within student unions are often organized within an activity committee that includes students who have some affinity with the organization, but not by organizing events with several thousand people.”

“Students also do a lot of great things.”
In the letter the mayor emphasized that students in Groningen municipality also do many beautiful things, and that by far the majority are well-meaning. However, Schuyling thinks it’s important not to turn a blind eye to slips that unfortunately happen, too. “It also includes naming, addressing, and punishing when necessary.”