Decide on the future of JLU: your voice counts!

Decide on the future of JLU: your voice counts!

In the upcoming parliamentary term, the members of the Justus Liebig University Gießen (JLU) will receive the opportunity to actively participate in the further development of their university. The elections to the Senate and the department councils take place in the summer semester, namely from May 20, 2025, the date of sending the postal voting documents until June 30, 2025. University members can take part in these elections both online and by postal vote. In order to strengthen the bodies and achieve a high turnout, a comprehensive participation in membership is called. The members are also encouraged to critically examine the statements of the various university policy groups, since the elections will decisively influence the composition of the committees and the future course of the university.

According to the information from JLU , university elections often take place in Germany, which leads to an enormous financial and personnel effort. These elections are a central part of university democracy that enables students, employees and professors to influence self -government. Various bodies- including the student body, the student parliament, the general student committee (AStA), board of trustees and student councils as well as academic senates- play different roles and tasks. The committees often consist of selected representatives who represent the interests of the respective groups in their function.

challenges and complex election processes

The variety of bodies and their different casts contribute to the complexity of the election process, so that individual ballot papers are required for the different groups of voters. As of Polyas , the low turnout often disappoints within the framework of university policy. For example, the turnout in Göttingen in 2018 was just under 26%, while the Germany -wide average was 14%. In comparison, the local elections in Baden-Württemberg 2019 achieved a participation of around 60%.

At many universities, the turnout is alarming. CORRECTIV has collected data from 70 state universities and found that in 20 of the examined students, the turnout was even below 10%. At institutions such as the University of Ulm and the University of Duisburg-Essen, it was even less than 5%. In addition, scandals are not uncommon - such as ballot gymnastics or financial intelligence - and undoubtedly contribute to the uncertainty of students with regard to student democracy.

promotion of student democracy

Especially with regard to the commitment of the students, it is important to promote this interest. Although many student representatives work intensively and often spend over 20 hours a week for their offices, they often do not receive compensation. Some of the students manage high sums annually, for example at the University of Hamburg and RWTH Aachen, where they are responsible for scholarships and other financial support. Nevertheless, students often report on a lack of interest in university policy.

To make a rethink and strengthen student engagement, the initiative is "Why do you choose?" started by corrective. This project idea is intended to help increase the turnout and to raise awareness of the importance of student participation. The university voting calls act as an incentive to actively contribute to the figures of university policy and to assert your own influence.

Further information on the elections at the JLU and the specific processes are available on the university website. It is the chance of the members to actively shape the future of their university and to make themselves heard.