The autumn is here. This means that the new academic years have started as well. Hundreds of new students have begun their studies in the academies of Lapland and many of them either already are or at some point will be living in DAS apartments. This makes DAS one of the most important partners of the student union’s mission to contribute to students’ benefits and interests.
It is important for students to get to live in good-quality and healthy apartments. One of the main themes of the student union LYY this year is communality and the well-being of students. Building well-being especially starts from the living environment. If residing is not high-quality, or if it poses a threat to one’s health, it has a huge negative impact on studies. This is why we have been glad to receive the news about the DAS apartment building plans on the Riihipellonpuisto area close to the university. The big investments towards student living bear a message that also DAS’ main values of living and residing are quality and health.
LYY has taken part in planning the student housing area in Riihipellonpuisto. We have taken a message about the services students wish to see at the campus area to the negotiation boards. Developing the campus area is important to be done with all the partners together or at least between LYY, Rotko – the student union of the Lapland UAS, DAS and the academies. By working together we can create the campus area as functional to all agents as possible. In the eyes of a student and student residence a few of the most important services in the campus area are good connections from the apartment to the academy and the grocery-, shopping- and food services which can be found around the city and the campus area.
LYY and DAS are important partners who share a lot of interests. If you want to take part in planning and affecting the student housing, dare to partake in either LYY’s action or your local DAS tenant committee. You can also directly contact the LYY agents, if you want the student union to forward a message in regards of developing the campus area.
Finally, I wish all new and old students a great new academic year. See you at the university!
Antti Eteläaho
The student union of University of Lapland (LYY) Adviser for Educational and Social Affairs