Student representative or advertising platform? ÖH in criticism!

Student representative or advertising platform? ÖH in criticism!

In a heated dispute between the student fractions at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz, the accusation is loud, the Action Community (AG) is abuse the platform of the Austrian University of Applied Sciences (ÖH) to support ÖVP politicians. In a video that was published on the social media channels of the VSSTÖ, Gras and Junos parliamentary groups, they accuse the AG to keep election campaign for the ÖVP. The AG chairman and ÖH chairman Philipp Bergsmann rejected the allegations and emphasized that the ÖH comes into contact with different politicians, regardless of their party affiliation.

The criticizing factions show how the AG publishes posts with the ÖVP mayor candidate Martin Hajart on the social media channels of the ÖH JKU. This promises a "mensafest bim" what the students should address, although such plans cannot currently be realized. Umut Ovat, the chairman of the VSSTÖ Linz, sees a clear border exceeded: "It is important to stand up for the interests of the students, but there is a narrow line that the AG does not create if it advertises for its own party," says Ovat in the video.

cross -political contacts

Bergsmann reacts to the violent allegations with skepticism and explains that the legally anchored goal of the ÖH is to contribute the interests of the students to politics. He refers to numerous meetings with politicians who not only belong to the ÖVP. Talks with the former Mayor of Linz Klaus Luger (SP) or the State Council of Transport Günther Steinkellner (FP) also took place. "We would also meet other representatives if it serves the matter, regardless of their political colors," continued Bergsmann.

The opposition factions, especially Laura Fürler from Junos and Tomislav Pilipović from Gras, also express concerns about the AG's approach. You see the example of the AG as inappropriate and plan to contribute an application at the next meeting of the university representative. This application is intended to ensure that the public appearance of the ÖH JKU is not linked to party political interests. The meeting of the university representative is scheduled for November 6th.