There is consensus, mainly on housing and tuition fees, but also different ideas for hazing and for Academic Week itself. The Academic Association of the University of Algarve (AAUAlg) will vote on 7 November, in elections that promise to be historic, as there are four lists up for election.
Since the founding of AAUAlg on 1 October 1997, there has only been one other time that there has been such a competitive election. When they go to the polls, UAlg students will be able to choose between four lists.
They are: A (headed by Rita Tavares, current president), C (headed by Leonardo Quádrio, administrator of AAUAlg), L (headed by Salvador Lourenço, Sociology student) and T, (whose candidate for president is Rodrigo Raziel, former dux from UAlg).
All gave interviews to Rádio Universitária do Algarve (RUA) FM, a partner of Sul Informação, where they were able to present the main lines of the candidacies that each one is leading.
One of the hot topics on the table was housing, with a broad consensus – everyone agreed that this is one of the main problems that students face.
Rita Tavares, current president of AAUAlg and candidate for the position, admitted that the current residences “do not have the capacity to respond”, recalling the project that the Academic Association has for “building a residence” in Portimão.
Leonardo Quádrio, who is an administrator of AAUAlg, but is running “against” “its” president Rita Tavares, also spoke about this same project, warning that it is necessary to move forward with the «architecture project» so that, later, «a period of through crowdfunding».
Salvador Lourenço, a Sociology student and co-founding member of the Student Group of this course, alluded, in turn, to his own experience as a displaced student, while Rodrigo Raziel, ex dux from UAlg, recalled that the University of Algarve is already moving forward with two new residences in fields of Penha and Gambelas.
“There are points where we have to think that we can do much more. It is a problem at a national level: we have to understand that our way forward is to create specific beds. Prices are inflated, we have a tourist demand and a growing demand from students for UAlg and these are two elements that need to be taken into consideration”, he said.
If there was consensus on housing, when it came to plans for Academic Week – the main event organized by AAUAlg – there were greater divergences.
Rita Tavares assumed that it is necessary to «restructure» the event, «in its thinking and structure».
“We know that the participation of all courses is essential, but we also know that there have been many difficulties. A very important point is that all courses participate [in the stalls], continue to invest in our Algarve culture and encourage greater listening to students to find out what they want,” he said.
Rodrigo Raziel, in turn, pointed out criticisms of the format of the last Academic Week, organized by Rita Tavares' management.
«We had an Academic Week that fell short. Perhaps we need to restructure what was implemented this year, namely the wristbands [cashless] and this harmed consumption,” he said.
“Our project involves restructuring the stalls, reorganizing the entry topics for each course, and making the project more transparent and participatory. We also want to increase the space of the stalls and review the market and understand whether payment by wristbands should continue or not. We have to deal with the Week with great caution and study, because it is very important for the Academic Association's accounts”, he also defended.
Leonardo Quádrio used his experience as coordinator, on three occasions, of the Academic Week and Freshers' Reception venues to argue that the entire organization is limited by the space where the events take place.
“The ideal place would be Largo de São Francisco. It was where it all started and it has a very good infrastructure”, he argued, also announcing that, for the next edition, it is not yet known where the Academic Week will take place.
As for Salvador Lourenço, from list L, he considered that, above all, the SA must “take advantage of local talent and give it a voice”.
"From there, we need to look at the budget and evaluate the names that can be brought in and consult the students. We need to boost other areas within the Academic Week as well, such as the stalls, so that there are not so many obstacles," he said.
Hazing was another divisive topic – a “sensitive issue”, as (still) president Rita Tavares admitted.
The leader of AAUAlg argued that Académica has the “fundamental role of respecting everyone: whether they are hazed or not”.
“This has always been our stance and it will continue to be so. Some are linked to the tradition; others are not, but the important thing is the issue of integration,” he said.
Old dux, Rodrigo Raziel is one of the names most associated with the University of Algarve’s hazing. While arguing that the hazing is “a very cool project”, the candidate for president of AAUAlg also considered that “no one should feel excluded” and that the hazing “must be open to change”.
“When we say that hazing is a choice, we have to guarantee it. And we managed to do so by removing the restrictions. A few years ago, one of the most important elements of tradition was academic attire. At UAlg, before, you could only wear it if you were hazed. Today, that is no longer the case. Before, a student who was not hazed could not go to a course dinner. Today, that is no longer the case,” he recalled.
“We don’t want anyone to feel excluded. In that sense, even my work at the head of MCV [[Magnum Concilium Veteranorum], is to ensure that the practice must be chosen or not, consciously. Those who do not participate, we have to ensure that they can participate in the same things", he defended.
Salvador Lourenço also recalled his past in hazing, of which he was the chairman of the committee during his course. “We [in Sociology] wanted to move away from the more physical hazing and go more towards a true integration aspect.”
"We wanted to provide an alternative to the traditional tradition, with dynamic activities. We have to start deconstructing this idea that traditional tradition is the strongest point of connection in university life," he argued.
Finally, Leonardo Quádrio also called for AAUAlg to be present at the initiation ceremonies. “We need to be closer to the students because this is the beginning of their entire academic journey,” he concluded.
If you want to listen to the full interviews, which also covered topics such as mental health and university sports, just click here
Comments