“We are quite busy these days doing the final planning for the Semester Start Celebration and Student Society Day. But I just had to take time out to visit the CBS Students booth to talk to the new students and get a feeling of who they are. I have truly missed that,” says Mads Taudal Nyeng.

Maria Gabriela Zoladkowska, the Vice President of CBS Students, and Mads Taudal Nyeng were elected to the CBS Students presidency in January but have hardly been on campus. Now, that they are back, CBS WIRE sat down with them for a chat about what current and new students can expect this semester.

For example, all the students are invited to the Semester Start Celebration on September 10. Usually, it goes by the name of the Semester Start Party, but this year, the concept has been upgraded.

“Usually, we have 2,000 students at Solbjerg Plads – and the same amount queuing up outside. But this year, it’s outside and we can have 5,000 students joining in,” says Mads Taudal Nyeng.

The Semester Start Party usually starts at 20:00, but this year, it will kick off at 12:00 with various activities hosted by some of CBS’ student organizations, like football matches hosted by CBS Sports, while students can hang out and listen to music. Later in the evening, the setting will change to be more party-like.

Semester Start Party 2018. (Photo: Luyi Liang)

“It’s more than a party, and it’s more inclusive, as it aims at accommodating everyone through different activities for the students,” says Mads Taudal Nyeng.

Finding a place at CBS

In general, the presidency wants to give the students a good start to the semester. Not only the new students, but also the ‘old’ students, who have not been at CBS much lately.

For Student Society Day on September 16, 60 student organizations have signed up for booths at Solbjerg Plads, where they will be inviting new students to join their organizations, and Mads Taudal Nyeng expects it to be well visited.

“All the second-year students have experienced is cancellations. They have not experienced what a normal study start is like, so if the same amount of students participate this year, it will be more than we are used to,” says Mads Taudal Nyeng.

For the Presidency, which now also includes Tomas Vemola, the most important priority this semester start is for the students to settle in at CBS.

“Both for the new students and the second-year students it is important that they find their own place and space at CBS. For example, they can do so by joining Student Society Day, where they can connect with organizations of interest,” says Maria Zoladkowska.

Mads Taudal Nyeng adds:

“Speaking of finding a space. The new students need to remember that they are not the only ones who are confused. Everyone needs to land again after the lockdowns. And that being the case, they can make use of the various resources CBS offers, like the Student Guidance Service, CBS Students or each other.”

Creating communities

Before the current presidency has a reshuffle in January 2022, its main focus during the coming months will be to create communities – as well as representing the students’ voices.

“We have been at home for so long that now we need to re-establish contact with the students, which means talking to a lot of them, supporting them and creating different events throughout the semester,” says Maria Zoladowska and adds:

“And, of course, we would like to get more students engaged in student politics as that affects us all.”

Mads Taudal Nyeng is enjoying being back on campus alongside the students and also hopes to engage with them.

“Just the other day, I decided to walk through Café Nexus on my way to the office, and it put a big smile on my face seeing the students back. For us it’s going to be important to facilitate the opportunities for the students to create communities and find their own place here,” he says.

Semester Start Party 2019. (Photo: Luyi Liang)

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