COMMITTEE REPORT

Committee: University Finance Committee

Report Number: 6
Date: 01.03.2011
Chairs: Rainer Fiege-Köllmann, Adriana Trutzenberg

1) Evaluation of aims from last report

• The UFC has taken up its work for the second semester with weekly committee
meetings.
• The UFC chairs attended the now monthly Committee of Finances meeting.
• Planning for an information campaign on “financial flows” of the university were
made concrete.

2) Account of work and progress of the last 14 days

1. The first meeting with the administration has taken place on February, 24th 2011.
Major discussion points were
a) the planned “Financial Flow” campaign: the chairs of the UFC will, together with
the GSA and administration work on a presentation (presented at the student
assemblies in May)
b) accessibility on campus: the project has been taken up by Dr. Thiel. A long- term
plan on how to make the campus more accessible has been drawn up in cooperation
with students.
c) meal plan opportunities: the yearly raised issue of different meal plan options is
complicated. Since the current system is rather fragile the administration would like
to leave it as it is.

2. ATM on campus:
Contact to “Sparkasse” is in place and the administration is willing to negotiate with
the bank. A meeting will take place soon to talk about detailed plans to install an ATM
machine on campus.

3) Aims for the upcoming 14 days

• Meet with jointed working group (USG, GSA, administration) for finance- flow
presentation
• Finish posters for “Financial Flow” campaign
• Begin organizing presentation for Student Assembly for the financial aspect
• Carry out a new survey on students’ satisfaction with the current food situation
• Hold Food Committee meeting with a representative from the administration
 COMMITTEE REPORT

Committee: Sports Committee

Committee Report Number: 6

Date: 01.03.2011

Chair: Stephan Huerholz

Evaluation of aims from last report

The procedure to set up the Olympix committee has started and is well underway. Spamming
for Undergrads will start today and continue throughout the week.
Account of work and progress of the last 14 days
All bodies concerned with the Olmpix committee have been informed and the committee
shall be established by the 9th of March. This will ensure the smooth organisation. The ICFT
council has contacted me about the USG members that will be required to supervise the
games. This will be discussed in detail on our Wednesday meeting. Furthermore I decided to
discontinue regular meetings with my committee since the nature of my current tasks is often
to meet and discuss things with the admin. I therefore thought it to be unjust to call my
committee members for regular meetings when there is not much to do for them. They are
however all still on board and will help me in any way possible if the necessity arises.
Aims for the upcoming 14 days
Further inquires regarding the designation of “Teams” shall be undertaken with the
administration. The Olympix committee shall have its first meeting and the results will be
reported back to the USG.
 Committee Report

Committee: Public Relations Committee

Committee Report Number: 6

Date: 1st March, 2011

Chair: Tilak KC

Evaluation of Aims of last report

It services has been highly non reactive to the numerous emails sent to open the website to the
internet. Apart from that the website is ready to be launched. Sending of information on what USG
has been doing was delayed due to late committee report discussions in the Parliament. Other
actions of the committee have been hampered due to my person health problem.

Current Project

 Promotion and Launching of the USG website

 Start of the introductory video shoot for the USG members.
 Promoting bring your trays back to cafeteria campaign.
 Promoting the voting for having doctor or nurse in the campus.

Future Projects

 Regular Update of the website

 Regular update of the Facebook page
 Linking USG website into Jacob’s main page.
 Committee Report
Date: 1st March, 2011
Committee Report Number: 6
Committee: Parliament Finance Committee
Chair(s): Lisa Begusch

Evaluation of Aims from Last Report

 Further Funding Applications were reviewed.
 No budget update from administration has yet occurred, thus I conclude that the
Semester fees for students are not booked on the USG account yet. I have sent
an e-mail to Sigrid Jürgens but she has not responded yet.

Account of Work and Progress of Last 14 Days

1. Funding Applications were reviewed:
a. Zimbabwean Country Information Day (full amount approved)
b. J-BEaMS Team Rubicon Contest 2011 (funding was rejected)
c. Global Issues Forum (full amount approved)

Aims for the Upcoming 14 Days

1. Review of further Funding Applications
2. The Semester Fees for students should be transferred to the USG Budget
until mid-March
3. Meetings with the PFC members to discuss Funding Applications and
proceedings of the Committee
COMMITTEE  REPORT  
   
Committee:  External  Relations  Committee  
 
Committee  Report  Number:  6  
 
Date:  01.3.2011  
 
Chair:  Benedikt  Blomeyer-­‐Bartenstein  
   
Evaluation  of  aims  from  last  report  
 
The  aims  from  Committee  Report  5  were  the  following:  
1.  Publish  the  second  issue  of  “DiverCity,”  ideally  including  more  information  on  what  is  
happening  at  the  Uni  Bremen.  
 
DiverCity  was  compiled.  It  was  published  in  the  last  days  before  March.  Additionally,  
cooperation  with  Pulse  of  the  World  was  established  whereby  half  of  a  page  will  include  an  
events  calendar,  based  on  the  information  provided  by  us.  The  committee  lacked  
information  of  events  from  Uni  Bremen  to  include.  This  was  in  part  due  to  late  organization  
on  our  behalf,  but  also  due  to  the  still  outstanding  contact  that  the  Uni  Bremen  
representative  promised  to  make  with  us.  This  will  be  one  of  the  areas  to  improve  on.  
 
2.  Follow  up  on  the  discussions  in  the  Landes-­‐Asten-­‐Konferenz  and  debate  to  which  extent  
the  USG  can  become  externally  and  politically  more  active.  Further  stay  in  touch  with  the  
representatives  of  the  Uni  Bremen.  
 
Multiple  measures  were  taken  in  response  to  this  aim.  Firstly,  feedback  was  gathered  about  
the  progress  (and  contact)  in  the  various  Arbeitsgruppen  (working  groups)  that  were  
established  at  the  Landes-­‐Asten-­‐Konferenz  in  last  December.  Furthermore,  it  was  decided  
that  USG  be  addressed  as  a  response  to  the  Wahlprüfsteine  and  a  general  debate  about  
policy  involvement  was  started.  
 
Account  of  work  and  progress  of  the  last  14  days  
 
The  External  Relations  Committee  met  twice  in  the  last  14  days  (18th  and  25th  of  February)  
In  the  meeting  on  the  18th  of  February,  Savannah  Carr-­‐Wilson,  a  representative  of  Pulse  of  
the  World,  attended  to  discuss  cooperation  with  ‘DiverCity’.  Johannes  Deselaers,  President  
of  the  USG,  also  attended  the  meeting  on  the  18th  to  discuss  matters  with  Uni  Bremen  and  
Uni  Utrecht.  
 
The  primary  events  of  these  meetings  were:  
1) Follow  up  on  the  contact  with  Uni  Bremen.  
a. It  was  concluded  that  little  or  no  progress  had  been  made  in  the  
Arbeitsgruppen,  and  due  to  our  low  interest  in  the  issues  of  them,  or  at  least  
the  low  relevance  of  our  participation  in  them,  it  was  decided  to  let  the  
 matter  run  its  own  course  for  now.  The  interests  of  the  USG  vary  substantially  
to  those  of  the  Asta,  finding  common  grounds  on  matters  that  hardly  affect  us  
should  not  take  our  effort  of  more  pressing  issues.  
i. However,  since  we  offered  to  host  the  next  Landes-­‐Asten-­‐Konferenz,  it  
was  decided  to  ask  if  the  Asta  of  Uni  Bremen  when  it  considers  the  
next  meeting  necessary.  This  was  done  in  correlation  with  the  next  
event.  
b. Response  to  Wahlprüfsteine.  The  Asta  of  Uni  Bremen  asked  us  to  sign,  either  
out  of  persuasion  or  out  of  solidarity,  Wahlprüfsteine,  directed  to  the  local  
candidates  in  the  upcoming  state  elections.  The  Wahlprüfsteine  are  a  series  
of  political  questions  –  without  a  specific  party  orientation  –  mainly  
concerning  educational  policy,  aimed  at  establishing  clarity  for  voters  prior  to  
elections  in  Bremen  later  this  year.  This  sparked  a  principal  debate  in  the  
Committee  and  was  handed  upstairs  to  the  parliament.  Although  the  matter  
is  still  undecided,  it  seems  as  if  the  USG  wants  to  refrain  from  political  
activities  –  even  if  it  is  only  asking  questions  –  because  it  perceives  itself  as  an  
administrative  organization  and  less  as  one  that  holds  a  political  mandate.  
Neverthelesss,  it  was  decided  not  to  merely  discard  the  matter  but  instead  to  
thoroughly  discuss  it  as  it  is  an  issue  that  will  be  of  increasing  importance  in  
the  next  years.  
i. A  letter  was  written  to  Lena.  In  this  letter  the  USG  outlined  its  
difficulties  with  political  involvement  and  the  inability  to  sign  the  
Wahlprüfsteine  for  now.  Nevertheless,  it  was  added  that  this  would  
hopefully  not  impair  cooperation.  
ii. The  USG  asked  the  ERC  to  make  suggestions  and  further  analyze  the  
possibilities  it  faces  with  political  involvements.  Can  the  USG  involve  in  
politics,  does  it  have  the  mandate  to  do  so,  if  yes,  how  would  it  do  so?  
Would  non-­‐cooperation  hinder  the  work  of  the  ERC  in  general?  A  
‘policy  proposal’  is  underway  and  will  be  delivered  to  parliament  soon.  
2) Divercity  was  compiled  and  published.  Feedback  was  gathered  on  the  previous  issue  
and  Pulse  of  the  World  was  involved  to  publish  parts  of  our  calendar  in  their  first  
march  issue.  
3) The  University  of  Utrecht  took  up  contact  with  Jacobs  University.  The  USG  has  been  
approached  by  representatives  of  Utrecht  and  the  President  of  the  USG,  Johannes  
Deselaers,  wishes  to  establish  a  cooperation  to  exchange  methods  and  concerns  with  
a  university  very  much  like  Jacobs.  The  ERC  offered  its  help  and  will  aid  with  the  
upcoming  meeting.  
4) On  behalf  of  CAIA,  Sigrid  approached  the  ERC  to  establish  a  ‘CID  cooperation’  project.  
CID  presenters  would  be  offered  to  present  their  country  in  English  and  German  at  a  
local  school  and  apparently  this  has  already  been  done  successfully  in  the  past.  The  
ERC  offered  to  help  establish  a  system  to  facilitate  this  process  in  the  future.  Sigrid  
promised  to  forward  all  necessary  material  but  this  has  not  yet  occurred.  
 
Aims  for  the  upcoming  14  days  
  
1)  Especially  with  the  increasing  public  attention  due  to  the  Pulse  of  the  World  it  will  
become  necessary  to  establish  a  facebook  presence  –  also  due  to  the  fact  that  Teamwork  is  
unpopular.  
2)  A  ‘policy  proposal’  for  the  USG  –  outlining  the  costs  and  benefits  of  political  involvement  
and  the  confrontation  the  USG  might  face  in  the  future.  
3)  Continue  gathering  feedback  on  DiverCity,  discuss  improvements  and  discuss  further  
publications.  Additionally,  attempt  to  get  the  information  from  Uni  Bremen  by  the  means  
previously  established.    
4)  Retrieve  further  information  about  the  representatives  of  Uni  Utrecht  and  help  
establishing  contact  with  them.  
5)  Ask  Sigrid  to  forward  the  information  on  the  ‘CID  cooperation’  project  so  that  the  matter  
can  be  taken  up  by  the  ERC.  
 
Please  do  not  hesitate  to  contact  us  if  you  have  questions  or  concerns.  
 
The  External  Relations  Committee  
 
 Committee Report
Committee: Events and Clubs
Number: 6
Chairmen: Ivo Kirov, Mihai Cîrlănaru

Evaluation of the aims from last report:

Our aims for the upcoming period were to start organizing both the Cyber Games competition and the
End of Year Festival. The committee managed to meet several times and discuss the structure, themes,
and facilitation of both events. Furthermore, we decided that it is appropriate to gather information on
the club brochure, its update, the club fees, club membership lists, and the clubs’ leaders’ mailing lists
and possibly hold another meeting with the club leaders.

Account of work and progress from report:

- Selected a final theme for the End of Year Festival
- Decided on the structure of the Cyber Games Competition and set deadlines for its organization
- Division of responsibilities among the committee members

Aims for upcoming period:

- Finalize the organization of the Cyber Games Competition
- Gather information about the club related issues
- Continue working on the organization of the End of Year Festival
 Committee Report

Committee: Environmental Affairs Committee

Committee Report Number: 6

Date: 01.03.2011

Chair: Hannah Schwarz and Matthias Seel

Evaluation of aims from last report and account of work and progress of the last 14
days:

The usage of the yellow bins has been monitored by a short survey of 40 students living in
Mercator. We found out that a majority of students did make use of them and those who did
not mostlys indicated unwillingness (not a lack of information) as the reason.

The first 100 thermo-cups were successfully sold in all four colleges. Since there is more
demand from students further thermo cups will be ordered for people signing up.

A close cooperation with Claudius Hardt, a phD student writing his thesis on possibilities for
a more sustainable Jacobs campus has been established. Together, a start-up campaign for the
new round of the green team award, that will this semester also include water(!), has been
worked on.

A proposal to put up additional glass containers in front of college Nordmetall has been
brought up and been approved in the UEAC.

A new project idea about a material science lecture series has been developed. An outline was
drafted.

Aims for the upcoming 14 days:

We are looking into cooperation with Pulse Express to improve and extend offers for “green”
consumer goods, e.g. recycled paper.

We will finalize and put up posters/send out spams informing about the new round of the
Green Team Award.

Start contacting possible guest speakers for the lecture series and take care for other
organizational issues regarding this.
 Committee Report
Committee: Campus Facilities & Housing Committee

Committee Report Number: 6

Date: 1.3.2011

Chair: George Bugan

Evaluation of aims from last report

Committee meeting to discuss the booking procedure postponed to the first week of March due to
scheduling difficulties. Actual modifications remain postponed indefinitely.

Meetings with stores in Bremen Nord so far unsuccessful, very few options left without resorting to
trying to negotiate with several stores (which seems impractical and unlikely), however efforts to find
one source will continue for now.

Account of work and progress of the last 14 days

Most members’ busy schedule did not permit much time to tackle many duties;

Standard booking procedure of the Blue Lounge – no major damage or anything out of the ordinary to
report.

Attempts to contact the IRC with regards to accessibility of the North exit as requested by students.

Contacted the former chair of housing in order to receive and review previous proposed structural
changes to the housing procedure.

Aims for the upcoming 14 days

Further looking into the bike stores within Bremen Nord that might provide assistance with regard to
the bike proposal.

Hold a committee meeting in order to explore the details of the Housing procedure, once all the
members have had a chance to take a look at them.
 Committee Report
Committee: Ombudsperson

Committee Report Number: 6

Date: March 1, 2011

Ombudsperson: Elisabeth Stevens

The office of the Ombudsperson is new to this year’s Undergraduate Student Government. The
Ombudsperson is responsible for complaints concerning university policies. She mediates
between undergraduate students and faculty/admin. All complaints made are held in the
strictest confidence. This month 5 reports have been taken up.