THE HISTORY OF THE GSb

The Groninger Student Union (GSb) originated from the Gronstra, the Groninger Student Council. The Gronstra was an organization in which all student associations and, for example, the ACLO were represented. As an organization, the Gronstra had a discount office, where people could buy books at reduced prices, for example, and its own newspaper. When the left-wing Studenten Vak Beweging (SVB) gained a majority in the Gronstra in the late 1960s, the student associations left. The SVB died out shortly afterwards, leaving a gap in the Gronstra's board. A group of former board members then decided to participate in the Gronstra elections under the name ‘Groninger Studentenbond’ (Groninger Student Union) and were quite successful as the only party to do so. The Vereniging Groninger Studenten (still our official name) submitted its articles of association to the notary on June 1, 1965.

At the same time, in the early 1970s, so-called ‘ground councils’ of critical students were formed at many educational institutions. The ground councils of the Psychology, Sociology, and Physics programs wanted to establish a political student union in Groningen, modeled after the ASVA in Amsterdam. They joined forces with the Gronstra board, and in 1971, the GSb student union was officially registered with the Chamber of Commerce. The fledgling union was immediately very busy. The period from 1971 to 1973 was marked by the 1000-guilder protests. The government had decided to introduce a tuition fee of 1000 guilders. The student unions were, of course, strongly opposed to this and organized various demonstrations and protests. They also organized a successful tuition fee boycott. As a result, a new cabinet in 1974 was ultimately forced to raise the tuition fee to only 500 guilders. The 1970s were characterized by a great deal of activism. During this period, there was also increasing criticism of the centralist and undemocratic way in which the GSb operated. The student organization's close ties with the Communist Party of the Netherlands (CPN) were also a source of irritation for many. This led to a decline in the number of active members in the late 1970s, although the total membership continued to rise to a maximum of 3,000 in 1983. The 1980s marked the beginning of a new era for the GSb. Issues such as the peace movement, women's emancipation, and the environment began to play an increasingly important role within the GSb. However, this resulted in a decline in attention to material interests, which had a negative effect on membership numbers. From the second half of the 1980s onwards, membership began to decline rapidly. There were also a number of positive developments in the 1980s. In 1983, the GSb was one of the unions that founded the National Student Union, a federation of local member unions that is still the most important representative of students' interests at the national level. The end of the 1980s was marked by the mismanagement of Minister of Education Deetman, who tried to implement a new student financing system in far too short a time. The resulting chaos provided fertile ground for student protests. The GSb played a major role in these protests. Finally, in 1988, the GSb took over the tasks of the defunct HBO union in Groningen, after which the GSb would represent both university and HBO interests. The early 1990s were disastrous for the GSb. Although it had long since parted ways with the CPN, the union became quite radicalized. It hardly did anything to represent student interests anymore. At its lowest point in 1993, the union had no more than 50 members and no board.

Reconstruction began in 1994. The GSb resumed its work representing student interests. Between 1994 and 1996, there was a wave of protests and demonstrations against tuition fee increases and the reduction of student participation. The GSb was very active in this regard, culminating in 1996 when a number of GSb members camped out on the roof of an IBG tower for three days in the freezing cold to protest against tuition fee increases.

But it was not only in the field of campaigning that the GSb rediscovered its roots. As a trade union, it also became increasingly professional. In 1996, the GSb student support center was established, a telephone line where students could receive assistance from legally trained staff with complaints about their institution, student financing, and housing, among other things. In addition, in 1997, the GSb established its own faction (the Progressive Student Consultation; VOS) in the co-governance council of the Hanze University of Applied Sciences. In 2000, a second faction was established in the University Council of the University of Groningen. Both factions now operate under the name GSb faction. A student faction that operates at two educational institutions is unique in the Netherlands. In 2002, one of the newest working groups was established: Struikelblok, the working group for students with disabilities.

Today, the GSb is an influential and strong union with over 350 members, of whom approximately 50 are active. Issues that the GSb has been involved in over the past year include the student loan system, housing problems in Groningen, and offering courses for members of program committees. In addition, we have worked to promote greater sustainability at the university and helped individual students with legal problems in the areas of education and housing. It is clear that a student union is still necessary in these times of increasing deterioration in higher education.