The Student Council’s history begins, like RUC’s, at the university’s founding in 1972. There were 665 students in three buildings on a field, and the rest had to be invented along the way.
At the founding, the National Union of Students in Denmark had secured that RUC should have a student council independent of the university, like the country’s other universities. In the first year the council consisted of former students from the University of Copenhagen who now taught at RUC. From 1973 the Student Council has been what we are today.
The 1970s
RUC fought for its continued existence. 35,000 students demonstrated across the country for the university’s preservation. In 1976 the Student Council withdrew from the university’s board when RUC was placed under ministerial administration.
The 1980s
The combination programmes emerged. The freedom to combine subjects was initially limited, but gradually became – not least thanks to the Student Council’s efforts – as free as we know it today. In 1988 Trekroner Station was inaugurated.
The 1990s
The struggle was about students’ co-determination at the departments. Direct influence on courses diminished, but the Student Council secured student representation on the department boards.
The 2000s
The University Act of 2003 removed most of the influence of students and staff. Dissatisfaction culminated in the 2008 budget case, when a budget with up to 30 dismissals was put before the board. The protests meant the dismissals were first postponed and then avoided altogether.
Recent years
The Student Council proposed the decisive compromise in the 2011 bachelor reform. In 2013 RUC’s Student House opened after five years of work, and an annual study environment fund was established. That same year the Student Council led the way when 300 students blockaded the administration to prevent additional strict study progress measures.
We are proud that for more than 50 years the Student Council has been the place where RUC students gather around our shared interests.