We at NAWI have been actively shaping student life on campus thanks to your support since 2009. Together with our sister lists, we work in close cooperation with the departmental student committees (Fachschaften) and student initiatives to represent your interests on campus. Although we have already achieved a lot, there is still much to do! Our principle is pragmatism.
We ensure that your social contribution, which totals over one million euros, makes a difference where all students benefit – on campus. We are an independent university group that does not position itself within the political spectrum. This means we advocate that university politics is not used by general political parties as a career springboard, but that decisions are made in the Student Parliament that move the campus and improve it for the better. Our opinion on various topics adapts to new insights and is open to innovations. Our motto „by students for students“ is always the focus of our work.

Due to legal uncertainties, the semester ticket had to be cancelled in the Summer Semester 2023. We at NAWI used this opportunity to renegotiate the Germany Semester Ticket. Through our efforts, you have paid up to 43.62€ less this semester than for the old ticket. Even with the current price increase, we have clear demands: free bicycle transport throughout the entire validity area! We will continue to fight for a stable and low price for the semester ticket, regardless of whether the price for the Deutschlandticket increases. Students have already had enough financial problems in recent years. But a cheap ticket alone does not solve the problems we have with public transport in Bochum. For example, Bochum’s main station was closed for several weeks during the semester for regional and long-distance trains – an imposition for the commuter university RUB! We, as NAWI, demand that such extensive closures do not take place during the lecture period.

• AStA Repair Café
• AStA Bike Workshop

Together we are committed to sustainability and mobility on campus!

Green Campus & Sustainability – Shaping a Sustainable Future.

In today’s world, a green campus does not only mean making it literally greener but also promoting sustainable action on it. We begin with a focus on the buildings, which offer the potential to install mobile photovoltaic systems or even photovoltaic bricks on their roofs. The latter could offer an architecturally appealing solution. In our inquiries, it was often argued that the load-bearing capacity of the roofs is insufficient. We wonder why this factor was not considered during extensive renovations and new constructions and demand that this becomes standard in the future. The university has now also recognized this point, which we have been demanding for years, and plans to equip at least new buildings with solar cells in the future – a start!

Another focus is on the exterior surfaces of the buildings. In the IA, for example, black panels could be replaced by inconspicuous photovoltaic panels that meet the requirements of monument protection in terms of color and architecture. We do not want to argue against monument protection but find innovative ways to link sustainability and the preservation of architectural heritage.

Additionally, we advocate for efficient energy management on campus, which can also be implemented via the CampusApp, especially with the „plant a seed“ feature. This is a defect reporter for unnecessary lighting on campus, the information from which we then pass on to the university administration.

Our vision is to save energy in the buildings and establish a sustainable device rental program. Furthermore, we want to introduce a module for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), which includes courses in the RepairCafé, elective areas, and an optional area. There are already studies on sustainability on campus that we can use to advance our initiative and shape a sustainable future for our campus.

Green Campus – Our Progress & Goals

For some time, certainly many of you have been familiar with the restaurant „Q-West“. The Q-West got its name from the area it stands on – the Querforum West, between the western building rows of the university, often called „G-Wiese“.

Less known but still of great importance is the Querforum Ost, which connects the N and I rows. Unfortunately, the Q-Ost has suffered greatly in recent years and is now characterized by a neglected pond, switched-off water features, and trash. Many of you may have often walked through the Q-Ost without paying much attention to it. But to restore the former beauty of the Q-Ost, it urgently needs renovation.

In recent years, the Sustainability Office had taken responsibility for the renovation of the Q-Ost. Unfortunately, in the first years, the willingness to cooperate from outside was limited, so we had to resort to independent events. These included various cleanup actions, which you supported in large numbers! We remain in direct contact here to implement your ideas and wishes in cooperative projects. We plan to promote green strips with regional seeds and enhance both the Q-West and the Q-Ost by planting flower bulbs. The latter has fortunately been implemented by the Sustainability Office as part of the Sustainability Week. Our goal is to create an ecologically pleasant place for local recreation on warm days that we can all enjoy. We continue to hold onto this!

We are always happy to receive your suggestions and your collaboration to make our campus greener and more livable.

Campus App

Everyone knows the problem: you’ve just enrolled in a new course and are given a cryptic room number that you can’t make any sense of. For this reason, we, NAWI, together with our coalition partners, designed the „Campus App by AStA“ with an interactive room finder. The Campus App can not only help find a room, but it is also open source and viewable on GitHub, so that everyone can actively participate in the further development of many cool features.

The following features are already available in the app:

A practical room finder, through which you can really find every room on campus without any problems.

A clear cafeteria plan, in which the offered dishes can be filtered by allergies and selected between different profiles (vegan, vegetarian, halal, etc.).

Furthermore, with the app, provided the phone supports NFC, the cafeteria credit on a student ID or a cafeteria card can be read.

In the app, there is a central newsfeed with current information about happenings on campus, news from the respective FSR (Fachschaftsrat) and from the AStA.

A shared event calendar that captures all campus activities and will in the future send reminders to users‘ phones is also among the features of the app.

For the future, we plan:

• A section for coupons and discounts, where students can always see where they can save on campus and where there are free offers.
• Surveys in the app on current topics.
• An option to use the app for payment in the cafeteria and the cafeterias.
• Integration of timetables and the course catalog.

Our objective is to continuously improve the „Campus App by AStA“ and adapt it to the needs of the students to create a useful and versatile tool for campus life.

Sustainability & Digitalization Center

Long-term, we as the List of Natural Scientists and Engineers want to establish a Sustainability and Digitalization Center on campus, which, in addition to an open repair hall, offers a place for exchanging second-hand goods – and provides a platform for all interested parties to conduct and attend events in the field of sustainability. The support and promotion of people who want to get involved in the field of sustainability should be the main focus. This should happen through the provision of workrooms, but also through immediate help with founding (e.g., initiatives and clubs). Likewise, these people should be enabled, through the provision of a media room, to present their visions and ideas effectively to the public and thus win additional engaged people for their ideas.

LIBRARY OF THINGS/AStA of Things – The Flat Rate

We want to implement the project „AStA of Things“ in the coming year:

tools & painting supplies, event equipment, and other items of (non-)daily use should be able to be borrowed „free of charge“ by all students and picked up directly on campus.

The „Library of Things“ works like a lending library – except that no books are borrowed, but things that shouldn’t lie around at home. For example: camping equipment, painter’s tables, cordless drills, 3D printers, projectors, and other tools. A membership costs 50 euros per year for students. Members of the BIB der Dinge Bochum can borrow items from the inventory. The equipment can be reserved online and there is, for example, a pick-up station in the AStA Repair Café. But how would it be if all students could borrow items without a membership?

Additionally, we are professionalizing the technology rental for departmental student committees (Fachschaften) with an online booking system. The departmental student committees could then borrow things like large sound systems, but also smaller soundboxes / microphones etc. for their events. Furthermore, departmental student committees should be supplied with electricity by us at their events; for this, large (rollable) power banks and high-power distribution cubes could be rented. The event furniture should also be expanded and adapted according to needs.

Further Expand Summer Festival & Winter Market

The Summer Festival was a highlight of studying at RUB for many students. Once a year, all departmental student committees, initiatives, and especially students came together on the main square of the university to have a great time together. Unfortunately, the administration of the Ruhr University decided not to revive the Summer Festival after the Corona-enforced break. But not with us!

In the last legislative period, we were able to organize a very successful student stand market in the summer as part of RUB60, which was visited by numerous students. Furthermore, we were able to have the AStA Winter Market take place again. Here, too, numerous students were able to start the winter market season on campus. Also in the next legislative period, there will be a Summer Festival and a Winter Market with us as NAWI – hopefully even bigger!

The reasons that supposedly make a Summer Festival impossible are that, on the one hand, it would not be financially worthwhile and, on the other hand, that the parking garage and thus the foundation of the Forum square is dilapidated. With the solution of RUB60 and the Winter Market, we were able to show concrete solutions for how major events supported by the student body can still take place.

For Summer Festivals to continue to take place, we continue to strive for strong cooperation with the departmental student committees. For the upcoming legislative period, we plan to expand the cooperation to all departmental student committees on campus and thus offer even more events for all students. University doesn’t just mean party, but party is damn well part of it!

Gaming

Gaming at RUB? With NAWI, that’s possible too! During the remote period, we transformed the remaining free space in the Glaskasten into a Gaming Hub. It doesn’t matter if you are a casual gamer or already an e-sports veteran, everyone is welcome in the Gaming Hub. This offers you the possibility to play your favorite games on the newest consoles and gaming PCs between or even instead of your classes. You can stop by during the week to play, chill, and chat. We look forward to seeing you!

Furthermore, we offer you the opportunity to compete with your fellow students and show your skills. Besides highlights like CS:2 and League of Legends tournaments, we offer spontaneous league games, relaxed Hearthstone Fireside Gatherings, and other TCGs like Final Fantasy, Magic, and Yu-Gi-Oh! Great prizes are up for grabs. Remember: NAWI is your starting point for everything around e-sports on the de_campus_rub.map.

At our retreat, we once again noted that gaming is still a hot topic. We plan to expand our cooperations with departmental student committees to set up larger and even more exciting events. Furthermore, we have expanded the offering to include Trading Card Game tournaments to offer even more diversity and excitement. Stay tuned and let’s dive into the exciting world of gaming together!

Professional Gaming

We are bringing E-sports to RUB! You are passionate about playing video games and want to approach things a bit more professionally in a team? Whether it’s OW2, CS:2, LoL, Valorant, Rocket League, or Rainbow Six, the initiative for E-sports at RUB makes it possible. In the Uniliga, we compete at the highest level against other universities nationwide. Most recently, we were able to advance with some teams to the respective first league and prove ourselves there. We significantly support this initiative and were able to bring projects like the Gaming Hub and E-sport Events to RUB in past semesters with it.

There are also numerous cooperations in this area. In the last legislative period, we were able to expand these and make new ones possible. We are particularly pleased to have initiated a cooperation with VfL Bochum.

Restore Library Opening Hours

Our goal is to improve the library opening hours and learning conditions at our university. The library is the heart of our academic life, the place where knowledge and research come together. We believe that access should be as easy as possible.

Therefore, we advocate for the following measures:

1. Expansion of general study spaces and opening hours for learning:
2. More study spaces: The university library should expand its offering of study spaces to meet the growing number of students.
3. We call for additional rooms and spaces for independent learning to be created.
4. Longer opening hours: The library should be open at times that are adapted to the different needs of the students.
5. We will advocate for the introduction of longer opening hours in the evenings and on weekends to enable more flexible learning.

Adaptation of library opening hours to building opening hours: The opening hours of the library should be aligned with the general building opening hours of the university so that students can access resources and spaces outside of lecture times as well.

KulturCafé

The KulturCafé has aged! It’s time for new furniture, and an upgrade of food and technology. Through the new furnishings, the café should shine in new splendor and appear brighter. The food offering is also no longer up-to-date. For this, a smaller food offering with fresh specialties such as delicious salads, crispy paninis, and fruity smoothies should make your taste buds bloom. In the last legislative period, we were already able to introduce EC card payment to make the KulturCafé more attractive for you.

Overall, communication between the student body and the KulturCafé team should be the focus in the future. For this, we were able to develop a new usage concept that was coordinated with the departmental student committees according to the needs of the student body. In terms of technology, with new ventilation, more guests could participate in the legendary RUB parties in the future. True to the motto: The bass must fuck, new speakers should provide better sound for parties. Clear advertising must be created for the events taking place there. For more presence, we have already installed customer stoppers near the KulturCafé.

Moving Forward Digitally

The past time of the pandemic has shown us how important a well-equipped digital infrastructure at the university is. We demand an improvement and expansion of the WLAN network on the entire campus. A reliable internet connection is essential to meet the demands of modern university education. For this goal to be achieved, the WLAN expansion must be advanced everywhere on campus, but especially in the G-row. But a digital university also includes reliability and accessibility. The university does not want to continue the lifelong @rub.de email and only guarantee students an email for the duration of their studies. On the one hand, this breaks the promise of a lifelong email. On the other hand, the new @edu email brings numerous problems. From Sciebo to publications made with the old email address, under which one will soon no longer be reachable. Therefore, we demand a lifelong rub@.de email as well as a comprehensive expansion of WLAN.

Collective Agreement for Student Employees

Student assistants, also known as SHK or WHB, are supporting pillars of research and teaching at universities and of course also at RUB. They are used in diverse areas, for example as tutorial leaders, in the preparation of courses, or in research for the preparation and execution of experiments.

For their activities, these students usually receive a lump-sum remuneration, which now lies only slightly above the minimum wage (minimum wage=12.82 €, SHK(RUB)=14.50 €, WHB(RUB)= 16.50 €). Unlike most employees of the university, these student employees are also not covered by a collective agreement!

We are committed to a collective agreement for student employees (TV Stud) and want to vigorously support the necessary procedure for it! Such a collective agreement would make it possible to ensure transparent, appropriate remuneration and establish fair working conditions and vacation entitlements. It would give SHK and WHB a right to co-determination!

Since the concerns of student employees are particularly close to our hearts, NAWI members are again candidates for the SHK-Rat (student assistant council) to efficiently represent your interests there as well. SHKs vote NAWI (Humanities: Alexander Lueg, Natural Sciences: Paul Leon Hoffstiepel, Engineering Sciences: Tim Barsch)!

Parliamentary Work

We wish for an active and productive parliament that fulfills its duties conscientiously. We attend the parliament sessions! Creating something together and not just talking about it is central for us! That’s why there were also no empty seats in our ranks in the last legislative period. We were able to shine, as every year, with 100% attendance at the sessions.

We want modern, understandable, and secure foundations for the work of the student body and the departmental student committees! Thus, based on our motions, the constitution, election regulations, and departmental student committee regulations of the student body were discussed and adapted. In the coming year, we want to work together with the departmental student committees on a voluntarily applicable set of regulations that reflects the legal framework and incorporates sensible suggestions.

Making Democracy More Accessible

Participation in the elections for the Student Parliament has stagnated for years at 7-11%. General elections are the heart of democracy, which is why increasing voter turnout is important to us. For this, we pursue various approaches.

We want to remove hurdles for participation in the election! We have already achieved sensible ballot box locations for the degree programs, so that physics students can vote in the NC, sports science students at the Gesundheitscampus, and computer science students in the MC. Our long-term goal, however, is the removal of the fixed ballot box assignment and the introduction of a central (digital) voter register. We have been working for years on the introduction of a digital register, which would allow the election officer to remove the fixed ballot box assignment. Thus, in perspective, all students could exercise their right to vote at any ballot box! For this, we have already created the legal basis in the election regulations.

We want to make university politics more transparent and accessible! This includes the StuPa-Check, which we organized and further developed and which is intended to serve as an orientation aid for students for the election (similar to the Wahl-O-Mat). Furthermore, we want to provide documents on the work of the parliament in a central, online-accessible archive (e.g., minutes, motions, constitutions & regulations).

More Political Education

More political education strengthens a vibrant democracy. Active participation arises where knowledge is made accessible. Formats should be designed in a xenial and open manner so that all students can find themselves in them. In times of social change, spaces for exchange are needed. We want to expand opportunities for co-design. Informative exhibitions, workshops, and lectures should make political topics tangible. Learning opportunities must be low-threshold and open. Interdisciplinary perspectives enrich the discourse. We remain connectable through modern formats and digital offerings. Sustainable political education is created through continuity. Together we want to make political topics visible. Reflected exchange promotes critical thinking. Enlightenment succeeds when content is conveyed in an understandable way. Diverse voices should be heard and included. Engagement arises where motivation and education come together. New formats like thematic exhibitions create attention. Dialogue is central for democratic processes. Young Scholars and students benefit equally from open educational offerings. Competent political education strengthens a responsible university culture. Ideas come alive when students discuss together. Strong political education arises through diverse perspectives. Participation succeeds when spaces for exchange are open. Dialogue is a central component of political education because it makes different perspectives visible. Openness towards new ideas helps students to better understand political processes. Political education offers orientation especially when content is prepared in an understandable and accessible way. The promotion of discourse spaces strengthens a democratic and reflective university culture.

Supporting the Dormitories

Dormitories are one of the central hubs for networking among students. Since we want to promote student life in all aspects, we also want to strongly advocate for the part of life that takes place in the dormitories. Here we are committed to better communication between students and AKAFÖ (the student services organization). Furthermore, we want to ensure that you get faster repairs for damages in your WGs, etc. Not to be forgotten is, of course, the promotion of more events, be it internally in the dormitory or together with other dormitories! The equipment in the dormitories, be it communal kitchens or common rooms, should naturally not be forgotten either. Rising costs for old and asbestos-contaminated dormitories and evictions overnight as in Laerholzstr. 17 are clear no-gos for us. We are already in talks with AKAFÖ and are committed to ensuring that students can live affordably in modern apartments. For us, it is clear that an apartment is better than no apartment – nevertheless, the interests of students must always come first!

Fair Cafeteria Prices & Vegan Offering

As in previous years, prices in the cafeteria and the cafeterias have been increased. Food on campus must remain affordable for students – or rather become affordable again. We at NAWI are convinced that basic provisions for students must be affordable and therefore demand a maximum price of 1.99 € for the pasta counter and the „Sprinter“ (basic meal). But we at NAWI are not only fighting for fair cafeteria prices but also for a more balanced and healthy offering. We demand that the vegan and halal offering in the cafeteria and cafeterias be significantly expanded. AKAFÖ has the duty to enable good and cost-effective offerings for all students.

Current discussions to close cafeterias we consistently reject. On the contrary: We at NAWI know that especially the decentralized cafeterias are often the first point of contact for students. More warm and vegan offerings and longer opening hours are therefore a matter of course for us!

Sports & Health

We want to continue to enable sports offerings for you through participation in various tournaments, from football and beach volleyball to chess and various trend sports. For this, there is the possibility to compete with friends and rivals alone or in a team and win great prizes. We want to make sports as fun as possible for you! Last year, we were already able to provide many different events, and we want to maintain that.

In this legislative period, we were able to expand the offerings in health management with our coalition partners. Long-term, we are working on a student health management that includes numerous offerings for students. Concretely, work is being done on premises similar to the GamingHub that are open for students. Here, there will be, among other things, sports courses, table tennis tables, yoga mats, and much more. Stay tuned!

But not only physical health is close to our hearts at NAWI, mental health will also continue to be a priority for us. Thus, with our coalition partners, we were able to offer Mental Health Workshops and plan a Mental Health Month.

Cannabis Club at the University

Making pragmatic politics means reacting to changing legal situations. Since the consumption and sale of cannabis has been decriminalized, NAWI has been committed to ensuring that you can also benefit from this on campus. NAWI plans to support student non-commercial cultivation associations in establishing themselves on campus or near campus as soon as the legal situation permits it. Thus, we plan to found the first Cannabis Club on campus. Through the introduction of Cannabis Clubs, students will be enabled to make an informed decision about their lifestyle while simultaneously protecting health and safety. In the AStA, events for information sharing and, of course, prevention could also continue to be offered. Education is the key to risk minimization! But of course, cultivation associations would also offer space for community, exchange, and cohesion, which enhances the well-being of all involved.

And even more …