On 11 February, the Student Council is founded and recognized by the university as a representation of the university’s students. However, the process of founding the Student Council is characterized by caution: First, a committee is set up to gather information about the teachers’ assembly’s position on the idea, before it is realized at a student meeting where the mayor of the city and the chairman of the teachers’ assembly are also present. This caution also characterized the Student Council’s work in the following years until the early 1960s.

This year, the criticism culminates in the famous student rebellion. Down with the professors and in with socially relevant education and student influence are the slogans. At this time, the student council is characterized by ideological factions, with predominantly left-wing students. The Student Front is the largest of these, and it is behind many actions in favor of views similar to those of the Student Council.
The time after the student rebellion is one of the most important for the Student Council, as two crucial things happen during this period: The students manifest themselves as an independent interest group that manages to make themselves visible both inside and outside the university walls. In addition, the students gain influence on the university’s leadership.

The Governance Act is enacted, but is met with large and violent demonstrations. This is because the law repeals the 1921 royal decree that recognized the student councils at the country’s universities as the students’ representatives. Instead, politicians, encouraged by the most persistent factionalists in the Student Council, introduce a list election for student representatives in the governing bodies. The Student Council sees this as interference in the students’ organizational affairs and chooses to boycott the work of the governing bodies in the hope of changing the law.

Although the Student Council and Moderate Students have previously disagreed on methods and goals for student political work, during the 1990s they realized that both organizations ultimately work for the same thing – a better student life for the students. Therefore, since 1999, they have worked together in a unified organization, where all students at Aarhus University are once again represented by a unified and strengthened organization.

The lockdowns during COVID-19 left many students struggling with well-being, isolation and motivation. The Student Council worked for clear communication, mental health and got the activity requirement abolished. We also had a seat in the Youth Crisis Management in Aarhus Municipality to strengthen the students’ voice.