An internal audit is criticising Lund Universityâs handling of studentsâ and employeesâ personal data. The University says that they are listening to the critique but has given themselves to 2018 to deal with the problem â until then the University does not know how they can ensure the protection of studentsâ sensitive information.
By Andrea Huberyc Translated by Viktor Jönsson
The way Lund University is dealing with personal data is not enough. This statement was made by an internal audit in early September after reviewing the Universityâs organisation and resources. Among other things was a lack of routines for recording the processes that exists at the University, and there was also a lack of follow-up and check-up of the process. The University is furthermore judged to be in great need of reviewing their routines and guidelines, as those existing have not been clear enough.
It is, for example, not made clear for the one who is handling the personal data how to go about in order to ensure that the information is adequately protected. The University has also insufficient routines when it comes to categorising and handling the sensitive data in a secure way, which can lead to using a cloud based system where the University has no control over the protection.
The responsibility is 1/5 of an employment Gunilla Norberg, comptroller at the internal audit, point out that part of the problem is that the person responsible for maintaining the protection of personal data has an employment where this task only makes up twenty percent of the total work time.
âWe do not know how big this service should be, but we can be sure that twenty percent is not enoughâ, she says.
Rather more risks than something bad has happened In May 2018 a new data protection law will be in effect which will place further demands on companies and administrative authorities dealing with personal data to have enough resources to protect the information.
As the internal audit was done before the rules were changed Gunilla Norberg want to stress that the critique was not a result of problems occurring per se, but that they could have happened in the future.
âDoes not feel particularlysafeâ Pontus, a student at Lund University, thinks it does not feel particularly safe to disclose personal information to the University when they store the information in the cloud services.
âThe majority of personal information is public today, but there is some sensitive information only the University has special access to. For example, information in the case you are in the need of special assistance because you have dyslexia. It does not feel if such information can be leakedâ.
Shall review all procedures Lund University takes the criticism seriously.
âWe absolutely think that there is work to be done here and have put together a project where a project manager will review all proceduresâ, says Susanne Kristensson, Head of Administration at the University.
How have these problems been able to happen at all? Should this not be a high priority to ensure that an individualâs personal information is safe? âJust because there are areas in need of improvement does not mean that this had not had a high priority from the beginning. We see potential for improvement all the time when it comes to procedures, but everything is sadly enough not perfect from the beginningâ, says Susanne Kristensson.
Lus are not particularly worried Lund universitets studentkĂ„rer (Lus) have read both the rapport and the Vice-Chancellorâs statement.
âWhile we agree with the internal auditâs conclusion that there are shortcomings that must be addressed but the rapport is more about identifying risks and dealing with them â not that a violation has occurred â and we are therefore not particularly worried. But it is of course a problem for someone in the need of a more sensitive treatment of their data if everything is not done properlyâ, says Jack Senften.
Should Sweden acknowledge foreign child marriages? Double standards according to some. Necessary in practice according to others. At the JiA-debate held by the Law Studentsâ Union, the question was discussed by renown people such as Göran Lambertz and Sven-Erik Alhem.
By: Oskar Madunic Olsson Translation: Carl-William ErsgÄrd
In order to marry in Sweden, you have to be 18 years old. But if a married couple immigrates to Sweden, there are other rules. The main principle is that a marriage approved in the home country should be approved here as well, except in cases of forced marriage or marriage under the age of 15.
Criticised regulations
These regulations have been criticised by politicians earlier this year. Not least when it was discovered that the City of Malmö had been placing underage girls fleeing to Sweden together with their adult husbands. However, several experts in law have defended these regulations.
At the labour days at the Law Studentsâ Union, JiA, a panel consisting of professors, politicians from the municipality and law profiles had a chance to debate the issue thoroughly.
âCannot dismiss all marriagesâ The people in support of acknowledging foreign child marriages often raised practical issues.
âIf a couple in their fifties married when they were seventeen and have lived together since then, we cannot refuse to acknowledge their marriage when they come to Sweden. That is wrongâ, says Göran Lambertz, judge at the Supreme Court and previously on the government commission on child marriages.
Göran Lind, professor of family law at Ărebro University, approached the issue similarly, turning the perspective around.
âIn Mississippi, you have to be 21 to marry. Is it reasonable for them to dismiss our Swedish âchild marriagesâ and not see some of us as married? That would cause disturbances in the entire global communityâ, he says.
Another aspect was raised by Michael Borgdan, professor in international civil law at the Faculty of Law in Lund, which is the protection and rights provided by marriages.
âOne risk with not acknowledging foreign marriages is the disappearance of the presumption of fatherhood when a woman becomes pregnant. That can cause practical problems, especially of the man has died or is abroadâ, Michael Bogdan says.
âChildren canât consentâ But everyone did not feel as positive. Philip Sandberg, municipal commissioner in Lund, condemned the current regulations. The rules must be the same for everyone, he argued, while also questioning the boundaries between child marriage and forced marriage.
âAccording to the Ombudsman for Children in Sweden, all marriages where the two spouses are below the age of 18 are forced marriages, since children canât consent to marriageâ, Philip Sandberg says.
Sara Mohammad from the organisation Never forget Pela and Fadime, was herself forced to marry as a child. She especially points at honour culture as a reason never to accept child marriage.
âThe other debaters doesnât understand how it feels to have a Kalasjnikov pointed at your head. The children in these marriages need protection. Today, they are married off against their will, raped within the marriage, abused and forced into slave labour in the kitchenâ, Sara Mohammad says.
Another prominent critic against different measures for Swedish and foreign marriages was previous chief prosecutor Sven-Erik Alhem.
âWe were at the forefront of banishing corporal punishment in the home. Should we allow it as long as the parents come from other countries? Just a little bit? No, our laws apply, even when it comes to marriageâ, Sven-Erik Alhem says.
On Monday October 31st, Pope Francis is coming to Lund. With this, the studentâs cardinal committee is organizing a Pope Parade to honor âFrasseâ.
Written by Tindra Englund, translated by Rebecka McKinnon Forsell
âWe want to try to gather all of Lundâs students and give out popeâs hats to anyone who want them. Then the idea is to march through Lund, from Clemenstorget to Stortorgetâ says the committeeâs own Ărkekardinal (Arch Cardinal).
The parade is politically and religiously independent and the goal is to not come forward with any specific message.
âWe simply want to enjoy that âFrasseâ wants to come here to Lundâ says Ărkekardinalen.
The committee has had meetings regularly during October where the event has been planned and Ărkekardinalen is the convener and head of the event of the parade.
âI simply felt a calling to do this, it feels like something that Lund needsâ he says.
The expectations are high on this day.
âI hope that as many people as possible want to attend. It is supposed to be spontaneous and high-spirited to show how fun it can be to be a student in Lundâ
So far, the cardinal committee has neither been in touch with nor been contacted by the police. But since the idea is that no one should wear masks during the march he thinks that it is unlikely that the police will disapprove of the event.
âI am sure that the police understand that this is for fun and nothing else. If they ask us to stop we will of course obligeâ says Ărkekardinalen.
The Studentsâ Pope Parade
Time: 13.30 â 15.00
Place: Clemenstorget
Dress code: White clothes or a pope cassock. Hats will be given out on location
1:30 PM. The student Papal parade, initiated by the studentsâ Cardinal committee â religiously unbiased â will commence from Clemenstorget and finish at Stortorget.
1:50 PM. The Pope will meet with the royal family. Kungshuset, Lund.
2:30 PM. Ecumenical service in Lund Cathederal. Invitation required.
Tuesday November 1, 2016:
Holy Mass in Malmö at 09:30 at Swedbank stadion. The mass will take around two hours.
Farewell Ceremony at the International Airport of Malmö at 12:30
Departure for Rome at 12:45
How can I stay updated?
Sadly, the centre of Lund will largely be closed for non-participants. Swedish National Television (SVT 1) will broadcast the event live, starting at 2.15 PM, and at Stortorget in Lund, the whole event can be seen via live-stream.
Background
To commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, Pope Franciscus travels to Lund. This will be the very first time Protestants and Catholics will gather to remember the Reformation with a common service â something both the religious branches no doubt have different views on. For five centuries, Protestants have celebrated the anniversary in the name of religious liberation, whilst Catholics view the Reformation as reason for religious disintegration, wars, and persecution.
The Pope will sign five fellow-Christian matters, which Catholics and Protestans shall agree upon. An historic day for Christianity, then, and a huge step towards a more unified Christian landscape.
Why Lund?
In the year of 1947, the Lutheran World Federation was founded in Lund. Therefore, it is natural to celebrate the Reformation here. Additionally, Lund is seen as particularly suitable, since Christianity has been strong in the city for a thousand years.
On the guest list
Around 500 people have been invited to the service in Lund Cathederal. Among those invited can be seen a great number of Swedish politicians, as well as representatives from both Christian directions. Below, a small selection is given. Find the whole list here.
Both Catholics and Protestants celebrated the Papal visit in Lund in the advent of the 500 year anniversary of the Reformation. In one of the worldâs most secularised countries, it is fascinating that this visit has received so much attention.
In social media, discussions about the Papal visit were ubiquitous, and oppositional efforts were arranged in many places; among other things, the newly formed Cardinal committee arranged a Papal parade for students who had not been invited to Lund Cathederal.
Huge police efforts
It was almost like some world renown artist or rock star had arrived to picturesque Lund, and police efforts have never been as extensive around a cultural arrangement â it even entailed regular patrolling, motorcycle police, and helicopter surveillance.
Time of division has passed
It was not until after the meeting at Kungshuset that the Pope went to perform what he had actually come for, i.e. the common ecumenical service in Lund Cathederal. In connection with the service, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) together with the Catholic Church declared a common commitment that means that the two religious directions want to move away from conflict, and towards reconciliation and unity.
âNow, we have an opportunity to repair a crucial event in our common history, through moving beyond our controversies and differing opinions that have hindered us far too often from understanding each other before,â says Pope Francis.
Apart from Pope Francis, Bishop Dr. Munib Al Younan, President of LWF was present â the two held the service together. Thus, this event is a historic one. It clearly marks the beginning of an end of a conflict spanning almost 500 years.
âWe hereby admit that there is far more uniting us, than there is setting us apart,â Bishop Dr. Munib Al Younan declared.
Eurovision for activists
After the service in Lund, the Pope went with his entourage to Malmö to join the event at Malmö Arena. In comparison to the solemn service in Lund, encompassed by all the heritage in the Cathederal, the event in Malmö seemed more like a mix of Eurovision Song Contest and an activist rally. The eventâs theme was Across borders and it focussed on the situation of the refugees of the world.
Having both Cirkus Cirkör and Malena Ernman present, as well as activists from all corners of the earth, the event was breath-taking. Focal questions apart from the refugee crisis were the climate threat, the Syrian wars, and the conflicts in South Sudan, Burundi, and Colombia, among other things.
There was also a strong emphasis on the rejection of nationalism, and embracing of a global community. This was not least evident when the words of Cirkus Cirkör echoed through the massive arena:
âWhen I was a kid, I took the boat from Finland to Sweden, and I couldnât fathom how there could be a border through something as ever-changing as water?â
Papal speech
Pope Francis also gave an emphatic and emotional speech, in which he spoke about the fact that the agreement made in Lund as such was not important; instead, the important thing is how to work for peace and unity.
âThanks to this new atmosphere of understanding, Caritas Internationalisâs and LWFâs World Service will be able to sign a common statement on deepening their collaboration to strengthen and develop the spirit of cooperation, and promote human value and dignity, as well as social justice,â Pope Francis said.
He commended all environmental activists in the world and urged them to continue fighting.
âI share your concern about the acts of cruelness hurting our planet, our mutual home, and which result in devastating effects for our climate,â Pope Francis said.
After that, he noted that it is none other than the weakest in society who are most affected by climate change, and that it should be the obligation of every Christian to protect what God created. He also stated clearly his view that Christians should do more to help those who have fled from wars.
âI also want to thank all governments of the world that choose to help refugees and asylum seekers,â he said.
Great costs
The Papal visit cost around eight million SEK of tax-payersâ money, according to the Swedish Church. But pride in Lund and Malmö was obvious, and nobody can accuse the Pope not taking his celebrity status seriously. If anyone, he tries to use his stardom to force us to listen to the stories otherwise running the risk of drowning in the white noise of media or the foamy white waves of the Mediterranean Sea.
On Tuesday 8 November, the Department of Political Science at Lund University will host an election all-nighter due to the USA election.
Text by: Tindra Englund Translation Richard Helander
The evening will start off with a trial vote among researchers, students, and Lund residents participating in the event. This will be followed by panel discussions focussing on American values and changes in social ethics, as well as how the American domestic and foreign politics might be affected by the result.
Researchers and students on site in the US will partake via Internet link. Online, it will also be possible to stay updated on other international all-night events.
What: All-night election event for the USA election, hosted by the Department of Political Science together with the student organisations LUPEF, the economical and political association of Lund students, and the Association of Foreign Affairs (UPF). Where: Eden, Paradisgatan 5H, Lund Participants: Researchers and students from the Department of Political Science, Ann Heberlein, researcher of ethics, Jonas Hafström, former ambassador in the USA. When: Tuesday 8 November, 5 â 11 PM
The room is dimly lit and filled with objects, locked drawers and cabinets that at first glance seem unrelated to each other. With these conditions we proceed into the next room â and in the end will deactivate a missile that is set to obliterate Helsingborg. We will avert a third World War and disarm a bomb to prevent it from blowing us up. How much time do we have? 60 minutes.
This is what we face when we are let into the game Zero Hour, one of the rooms at Helsingborgâs newly started escape room: Breakout Sweden. There are three different rooms in the game center with missions that are to be completed in teams. You wonât get anywhere without cooperation.
The mission we receive is to infiltrate the rogue state Konvetskiâs high quarters. By solving riddles and finding clues we are going to get through three small rooms in order to save Helsingborg â and ourselves. The time is running short, the stress level is rising, and the adrenaline is elevating.
The game center is newly opened. During the last five months, Emmanuelle and Shahar have spent all their free time building and renovating the 120 m2 sized hall.
â It has been five very fun months. Whenever we havenât been at school or at work we have been here. It has been a sacrifice, but it has been a lot of fun.
In the future they want to expand, and be able to have more rooms. They also want more people to discover the fun of escape rooms. â Most people who have been here so far have tried it before in other cities. Our goal is to get more people to discover escape room. This is for everyone.
We escape room-testers didnât make it the whole way. We saved Helsingborg, but not ourselves. The hour inside the rooms went by extremely fast. After the last ten, very stressful minutes, we heard the bomb. The adrenaline slowly began to decline.
Afterwards we were very happy with the experience. If you want to do something different in Helsingborg, Breakout Sweden and its escape rooms are definitely something we can recommend.
Photo: Jonas Jacobson.
Let art light up the autumn darkness Take a stroll into Dunkers kulturhus, situated in the center of âThe Pearl of the Straitâ â Helsingborg. For those interested in art and culture, this is the perfect place to visit. Donât let the autumn weather and darkness stop you from exploring art. Nathalia Edenmontâs naked and colorful photo exhibition âThrough the eyes of Nathalia Edenmontâ will be showing this autumn at Dunkers kulturhus. Homeless EU-migrants are depicted in Anna Bank and Birgitta Wittingâs art exhibition âSorry att jag finnsâ (âSorry I existâ).
Take a trip over the strait A classic trip for the visitor or the ones living in Helsingborg is to take the ferry over to Denmark and back with a one-way ticket. For those who want to see more there are lovely daytrips to HelsingĂžr. Make time to visit Kronberg castle where Shakespeareâs famous play Hamlet is depicted. Later you can visit central HelsingĂžr for a bit of sightseeing and restaurant-going in our neighbor country.
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Landborgspromenaden Helsingborgâs finest stretch of road is by Landborgspromenaden. Starting from Sofiero, there is an eight kilometer walking route into KĂ€rnan in the city center. A walk where you can let go of the stress of your studies or the exam that is coming up. Enjoy a refreshing landscape, beautiful parks and a view of the strait.
Raimund Muscheler is a Quaternary geologist at the Faculty of Science at Lund University and has a key role in the search for the worldâs oldest ice. By analyzing the ancient ice, scientists are hoping to improve future weather forecasts.
Project Beyond Epica â oldest ice is a collaboration between 14 European institutions and seats of learning. Raimund Muscheler is a Quaternary geologist at the Faculty of Science at Lund University and has a key role in the search for the worldâs oldest ice. The oldest ice that has been analyzed so far is about 800Â 000 years old. Now, the target is to find ice that is almost twice as old.
â My team is in charge of determining the age of the ice by analyzing radionuclides. We are examining samples of ice that has been found about 3 kilometers deep in the Antarctic bedrock, he says.
Scientists are expecting the analyses to tell us about the climate, and what processes that affected the climate, more than one million years ago, like the occurrence of greenhouse gas for instance. With knowledge about past climates scientists hope to improve the climate prognoses about the climate of the future and be able to predict climate change.
â A better understanding of the climate system will hopefully lead us towards taking the appropriate measures to avoid big climate changes, says Raimund Muscheler.
The EU is contributing with 2.2 million Euros to finance the project that is coordinated by the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany.
The proximity of Lund to Copenhagen makes it a popular destination for students to visit and Christiania will make many peopleâs must-see list. But after the recent shooting and action from the residents, is it still worth it?Â
Freetown Christiania was formed in 1971 by squatters with the intention of creating a âself-governing society, whereby each and every individual can thrive under the responsibility for the entire communityâ.
The squatters moved into abandoned army barracks in 1971 and the following year formed an agreement with the state which allowed their use of the land. In 2011 a deal was made between the residents of Christiania and the Danish Government that formed the Foundation Freetown Christiania. As a collective the residents bought off of the state the area of Christiania located outside the protected ramparts.
Despite its unique social history, probably the most famous aspect of Christiania is the ability to openly purchase weed while there. Although it is illegal throughout Denmark, the residents of Christiania have maintained their philosophy of weed legalisation and as a result Pusher Street became the place in Copenhagen for open sales. However total drug legalisation is not advocated for. Hard drugs have never been supported by the commune and during the rise of heroin use, a âjunk blockadeâ was organised in 1979 by the residents which gave users access to treatment.
Bike gangs have maintained an influence in Christiania for almost as long as its existence and although dealers must be residence of Christiania, in 2004 Danish police surveillance revealed that the dealers were under the control of biker gangs. In recent years the gang influence has become increasingly prevalent, with the introduction of dealers covering their faces and screening their stalls to only show their hands.
On August 31st 2016, Mesa Hodzic shot two police officers and one bystander on Pusher Street. In response to the incident the collective ripped down Pusher Street, an act usually undertaken by the police, to show their frustration with the gangs and support for the police. Rather than springing straight back, as it has done after police raids, as of yet Pusher Street has not been rebuilt.
The other side of the Christiania ethos remains prevalent. The restaurants, pubs, and community projects are still open. The stalls on the main square still sell brightly coloured knitwear and cannabis paraphernalia but no drugs, at least not openly. However, the smell of weed still hangs heavily in the air and a small stretch of Pusher Street has been reclaimed by dealers not in stalls but rather in groups conjugating on the pavement.
Freetown Christiania is a rare example of collective living in Europe. Christiania has always been so much more than a place to buy weed, with a rich cultural heritage of its own. Hopefully that will be the reason it is recommended as a must-see stop in Copenhagen.
Last Tuesday people worldwide came together to show solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux and demonstrated against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Also students in Lund gathered downtown to take a stand against the project and to demand the withdrawal of the Swedish banks that invested money in this pipeline project.
The Dakota Access Pipeline Project Â
The Dakota Access Pipeline is one part of the Bakken pipeline project. This underground pipeline is supposed to go through four national states in the US starting in North Dakota and ending up in Illinois. According to the protestors and the Standing Rock Sioux it was planned without considering the preservation of their sacred land, the wildlife habitat and the possible contamination of water sources through an oil spill.
#NoDAPL As the government has lacked to consult with the Standing Rock Sioux in North Dakota during the whole planning process, the pipeline project began to receive enormous critics and was finally transformed into a movement of protest. These protests tarted back in 2014, but it was this spring people worldwide began to spread a global movement of solidarity with the Native Americans in North Dakota. By using the hashtag #NoDAPL people also began to take advantage of social media to make more people aware of the situation and spread the word in favor of the Native Americans.
The Global Action Day In Lund All these grievances united citizens around the world to show solidarity with the Sioux tribe. Bergitte Lowzow and Johannes Löhr, two of the main coordinators of the demonstration in Lund see the global action day not only as chance to show solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux, but also to make people aware of the involvement of the Swedish banks in the pipeline project. Therefore they organized, besides the normal demonstration with banners, a short tour through Lund with stops in front of three Swedish banks that invested money in the pipeline project.
âThe seven biggest banks in Sweden are financing the pipeline project with Nordea having the biggest share of all of themâ, explains Bergitte Lowzow. For her, it is important to point out that we as customers can pressure the banks and that we have the power to change something, for instance by switching to anther bank.
Non-Transparent Banking System It is still rarely the case that consumers know where a bank invests their money. The banking practices are extremely unclear, which makes it difficult for us to choose the right bank. Johannes Löhr sees the action day also as chance to exactly address this problem:
âWe want to create images in peoplesâ heads that makes them connect the big banks with such businesses as for example the pipeline project.â
Both strongly condemn the pipeline project and stress that also if they are not directly affected by the consequences, each of us has a certain responsibility, as Bergitte Lowzow explains:
âOf course I am not directly affected by the loss of sacred land or contaminated water in the US. But everybody is affected by the fact that other human beings are treated badly. I think it does not matter where you live, each of us should stand up and question what is happening there.â
Over 70 people took part in the demonstration in Lund. They could not change the decisions the American government made, but they made other people aware of the situation in North Dakota and achieved to stimulate thought.
If you want to see how fair and sustainable your Swedish bank is, you can check this website: http://fairfinanceguide.se/ (It is in Swedish).
In todayâs world most of the food distribution is owned and controlled by big corporations. Nevertheless, there is a co-operative movement going on, which stands for more freedom of choice and justice.Â
Within the last years, people have started to reclaim their identity on the market and ask for more transparency. A growing number of individuals decided to position themselves against a situation, in which their freedom of action is limited and form a more open and honest form of an enterprise: the co-operative was born. This basic idea of uniting people with common needs in form of a collectively owned firm is nothing new. The roots of co-operatives can be dated back to the 19th century. Today numerous forms of co-operatives exists, ranging from only distributing food to members up to running a jointly owned store or restaurant.
For Bue Heckmann, a member of the food co-operative âKĂžbenhavns FĂždevarefĂŠllesskabâ in Copenhagen, joining a co-op has great advantages:
âThe food here is ecological and locally produced. There is no such thing as perfectly shaped fruits and vegetables that all have the same size. I find it interesting and challenging to receive vegetables you do not know and as you get them in season, I constantly develop my cooking skills.â
Every Wednesday the members of the Danish food co-op can come to one of the nine distribution locations spread in Copenhagen to pick up a bag full of vegetables or fruits, depending on what has been ordered one week before by the member.
Of course, becoming a member of a co-op means to be confronted with certain responsibilities such as taking on one monthly shift of four hours during the distribution Wednesdays. Additionally, disorganization within the co-op usually complicates a smooth working process. Still, Bue does not see this as a drawback, quite the contrary:
âThe food co-op is a great chance to broaden your own horizon and I think that in our society thatâs a point lots of people crave for. So many people want to develop themselves but do not know how. Being part of this co-op is a perfect answer to this.â
âI actually live on the same street and knew this place. For me it was nice to start doing something useful. Itâs fun because you meet a lot of people and you can organize events.â
âRight now we have nothing planned. You know, it always depends on the members, on how much time they have.â
Talking about the future of the shop Antti sees a lot more potential: âOne could make the concept even bigger. People could place their own products in the shop and sell them here.â
Co-operatives are enjoying a steadily increasing popularity worldwide and symbolize as no other project that a group of people has the capacity to change the rules of the game. Notwithstanding, it is not a system that works for everybody and not each person can bring in the same degree of commitment. But being a member in a co-operative is not only measured on how much you bring in, but also on how much every single person takes out of it and uses.
In India, the pace and scents are different. Johanna Svensson and Jaskirt Matharu went to Hyderabad to make a difference while working on their masterâs theses.
Text by: Tindra Englund    Translation by: Elise Petersson
The fans in the ceiling whirr loudly and the corridors are filled with cancer patients and their families. But here in the office, a couple of doctors and nurses have gathered to listen to the Swedish students who are about to present their work. One of the women working at the hospital hands out small cups of sweet tea and cookies that look like drömmar. (t/n. drömmar is a type of Swedish shortbread)
Johanna Svensson and Jaskirt Matharu are both studying their second to last semester at the medical program at Lund University. But right now the lecture halls feel far away. Namely because they have spent the past couple of weeks at the cancer hospital MNJ in Hyderabad, India, gathering data for their masterâs theses.
âTo us, itâs been a way to use this time to not only receive course credit, but also to be of help. We have researched things that the hospital is interested in knowing, but doesnât have the personnel to doâ, Jaskirt says.
Photo caption2: Jaskirt Matharu with mentor Dr. Jean Jacob. Photo: Tindra Englund
Jaskirt has researched how close to their deaths the patients at the hospital go through different treatments to see if they are being treated for âtoo longâ. A task which required her to read over one hundred handwritten medical journals.
âThe journal system here is very different. Among other things is that theyâre handwritten, which can make it hard to interpret what is writtenâ, Jaskirt says.
Despite this she has, through her systematic reading, managed to show that only about half of the patients receive some sort of palliative care before they die. Which means care that in some cases will shorten the patientâs life rather than prolong it, but in return makes it almost painless and more worth living. Others continue a treatment meant to cure them until the end. A number which seems to shock the audience in the room.
âThis information is very useful to us and it will change how we work with these patients in the futureâ, states Jean Jacob, one of the doctors present.
He tells us that the Indian research involving care near the end of oneâs life is very limited and that youâre often forced to rely on western research. One of the reasons why it is like that is that many people believe that palliative care is wrong from a religious point of view.
After an hour of waiting, one of the secretaries enters the room and says that the doctor who was supposed to evaluate Johanna unfortunately cannot make it. This means that Johannaâs part of the study will have to wait until the next day.
âIâm not that surprised, thatâs just how it is here and weâve spent a lot of time waitingâ, Johanna says and laughs.
Despite the rough patches she does not regret coming here to do her research.
âIt actually feels a bit useful to come here and encounter this relaxed attitude, where everything is allowed to take its time. Learning to accept things as they are instead of getting worked up. Furthermore, I am time and time again impressed by how effective work is here despite everythingâ, Johanna says.
The purpose of her study has been to research how well leukemia treatments are being done at the hospital.
âIâve gone through medical journals and compared recommended medicine doses to actual medicine doses. The thought is that if there is a large deviation it could show why the survival percentage is lower hereâ, Johanna says.
Even if a large portion of their time in India has been spent at the hospital they have also seen quite a bit of the million city of Hyderabad. They have visited the Salar Jung museum, which is one of the largest museums in the world, and the large ruin city Golkonda which was built in the 1100s.
They were also invited by a family to celebrate the big Indian holiday Dussehra together.
âBeing able to celebrate Dussehra was very exciting and the atmosphere was nice, with lots of neighbors who came over to visit each other. But it was a bit tough too since we stood out so much, and in the end there were a bit too many people who wanted to take selfies togetherâ, Johanna says.
Johanna and Jaskirt still agree that it is not the large and majestic buildings or the craziest ceremonies that left the biggest impressions.
âThe little things are the coolest, and the itâs the meetings with people that I will remember the most. When you meet a child that doesnât know any English and is overjoyed when you are able to communicateâ, says Johanna.
Jaskirt agrees that meeting the patients has made the biggest impression.
âIn connection with visiting Hospice the other day where they had invited relatives to the deceased. The thought was that the relatives would able to meet and talk about how things had been latelyâ, Jaskirt says.
Jaskirt says that despite most relatives being parents of children who had died from cancer, and despite that the mourning was immense, there was also a form of gratefulness for the care and pain relief they had received at the end.
Both Jaskirt and Johanna think that the people of India are more open in showing their mourning than we are used to in Sweden. And if anyone passes away people gather and mourn together.
âItâs really amazing how families at the hospital support and help each otherâ, Johanna says.
The following evening it is time to say farewell, and it is with some melancholy that they put their bags in the taxi. It is noticeable that India has left a significant impression on the two medical students.
âThis has been an amazing experience, and I really want to recommend others to take the opportunity if they can. Even if it requires a little extra work before you take off itâs definitely worth itâ, Jaskirt says.
Night settles over Hyderabad, with all of its scents and sounds. Further down the street innumerable merchants unpack their fruits and vegetables in preparation for the weekly night market.
Sunday Advent, with its candles and mulled wine, might seem far off. But do not fret! The editorial office of LundagÄrd is giving you its best YouTube-tips that guarantee warmth to get you through the cold and dark November.
Translated by: Cecilia Eriksson
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The Predecessor of Swedish Designer Ernst Bob Ross will give you a guide on how to create a nature painting from scratch. As the painting comes to life on the canvas he will blurt out wonderful New ageâ sentiments. Bob Ross must have inspired Swedish designer Ernst Kirchsteiger when he was making his own debut on television.  Bob Ross â Mystic Mountain (Season 20 episode 1).
Everyday Happiness Brazilian farmer Maria shares the joy of getting up every morning to see the corn and bean fields she has grown. This is a part of the movie Human, which includes portraits of people all around the world on the subject of happiness, love, and sorrow. I recommend the whole movie for those who have not seen it yet. HUMAN â clip #16: The simple pleasures.
Text: Filippa Petersson
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Police Violence Lately Iâve been completely hooked on clips from The Daily Show. Trevor Noah manages to turn the presidential election, police violence and the Manhattan bombings into humor. The latter can be seen in the clip The Daily Show â New Yorkers react to the Manhattan bombing. After that, just keep clicking to enjoy more satire.
A Cabin in the Alps â In Lund In case you, just like me, live in a bare and sad studio apartment, this video is a means of escaping your student accommodations by picturing yourself in a warm and cozy cabin in the Alps. My favorite is called 10 Hours of a Fireplace Burning HD, but there are loads more like it. For maximum effect, it can be combined with the website http://asoftmurmur.com/.
Drunken escapades Best of drunk Boris Yeltsin is without a doubt my favorite clip of all of YouTube. The drunken escapades of the former Russian president are quite dark, but yet so entertaining. It might not be very statesmanlike, but donât we all want to down a cold one with Boris after having watched this clip?
Text:Â Sebastian Rudolfsson
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Terrible but Delightful Somewhat of an old classic â albeit a really good one. When the Metro Trains in Australia wanted to educate the public about train station safety, they did not make a boring cautionary video. Instead they made a song that was highly popular, probably thanks to a catchy tune being combined with gruesome lyrics. Search for: dumb ways to die.
Letâs Go to Church When comedian John Oliver start donating money to an American reverend who promises the blessing of God in exchange for donations, just to see what happens⊠you can just sit back and enjoy. Even though it is actually about a sad, unethical phenomenon. Search for: televangelists.Â
Volvo, Ikea, Crispbread In 2014 Norwegian Anders Nilsen composed the summer hit Salsa Tequila â a song consisting of his entire Spanish vocabulary. That made a Dutch DJ think to himself, âWe can do that too,â and so he made a Scandinavian version. View it to see the whole of Scandinavia being summed up in 2:09 minutes. Search for: Volvo IKEA KnĂ€ckebröd.
Living a sustainable life is not always easy, but Jessica Könnecke gives her best advice on how to make a smaller footprint for christmas.Â
During Christmas time, most of us have full diaries. We are keeping a hectic pace and are constantly worried about finding the perfect gift for our friends and family. On Christmas Eve we then reach a consumption peak: Too much food, plastic wrapping paper everywhere and piles of gifts nobody will use. Here are five tips that will help you to reduce your eco-footprint this Christmas:
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Food The Christmas meal certainly is one of the most important elements of Christmas. And during the grocery shopping you can ensure that your meal will be good for your family and the environment. Try to shop local or organic fruits and vegetables. In addition, think of the kind of meat you want to serve and how much. Meat has a huge impact on the environment and there are nice vegetarian alternatives or side dishes. Â The University of Oxford even found out that reducing meat could actually reduce your carbon footprint more that giving up your car. It is also crucial to be aware of the amount of ingredients needed. Nothing is worse on Christmas than to throw away food because nobody could eat it.
Gifts Who doesnât love presents? Sure, everybody is looking forward to receiving Christmas gifts, but this does not necessarily have to harm the environment. Try to buy fair trade products or (hand made) products that are made my smaller, local businesses and think of presents that are really needed. Why not make a photo album or delicious cookies? A nice Christmas present does not have to be expensive, but valuable. Also, use alternative wrapping paper and avoid plastic wrapping. You can either look for old newspapers or buy recycling wrapping paper. When receiving your presents, keep the wrapping paper, so that you can reuse it next year.
Christmas cards Giving away Christmas cards has become a tradition that everybody sticks to. But to be honest, after receiving several cards, there are either hidden somewhere in the house or even thrown away. That is not sustainable at all. If you do want to make your own Christmas cards, send them as an e-card. You save lots of paper and people are not bothered where to keep them after Christmas. Should you have more time, there is the possibility to reuse materials. Usually we gather lots of extra papers and old magazines. Cut nice motives and sayings out of the magazines and create a nice card. This is much more personal and makes the recipient more keen on keeping it.
Christmas without any lights is no real Christmas. Thatâs okay. But try to reduce the number of lights in your garden, house or room. Also use LED lights if possible and turn them off when leaving the house. When buying decoration, pay attention to quality so that it can be used the next year. You can also make your own decorations, such as paper stars or garlands.
 Christmas Tree The central element of a perfect Christmas: The Christmas Tree. As a kid everybody loved to decorate it and to finally spot all gifts lying under it. Unfortunately, Christmas trees are everything else than sustainable. They usually have long transportation routes behind them and are grown on monocultures, where huge amount of fertilizers are used.
However, it is still better to buy a real Christmas tree than going for a plastic one. Often families even discard plastic trees after one or two years and it takes much longer for plastic trees to biodegrade. If you want to buy a real Christmas tree look for certified organic trees or inform yourself about local tree species. If you want to be creative, there are now event companies that rent trees or just build your own tree out of wooden strips for example.
Today the so-called International Day took place for the fourth year in a row. The event is arranged by all of Lundâs Student Unions together and the aim of the event is to help the international students in their hunt for a job in Sweden.
âThere are international students at all the different faculties at Lund university and as unions we are trying to include them as much as possible. But because of limited resources there are sometimes a big advantage of also doing something together,â says Matilda Edvardsson from the Social Sciences Student Union and one of the coordinators behind the event.
Lunch with alumni The coordinators have made some changes from last yearâs event and among other things it included the possibilities to have lunch with an alumni.
âThe Lunch event is organized by the alumni network and together we have managed to gather 18 alumniâs that are willing to have lunch with the students,â says Matilda Edvardsson.
According to her there has been a big interest among international students to participate in the event.
âMany international students are very committed and the spots for eating lunch with an alumni and for a lunch lecture with Ikea the spots where booked within seconds,â says Matilda Edvardsson.
Plenty of jobs for internationals According to her there are plenty of jobs and internship where speaking Swedish is not mandatory.
âBut they are not always that easy for the international students to find. Our goals with this day is therefore to help the students by giving them tools to find these,â says Matilda Edvardsson.
The fika-culture Jessica Lin is originally from China but is studying a two-year masterâs program in economics in Lund. When she is finished with her masterâs she is hoping to find a job in Sweden.
âI think that people here are very nice and therefore I am assuming that the working culture here will be very nice as well. Also I really like the âfikaâ-culture here,â says Jessica Lin.
She is excited about the alumni lunch and thinks that the event is a good idea.
âIt will be interesting to hear the story from the alumni and I would like to know how to get a job here and also how to get accustomed to the Swedish culture.â
A work/life balance
Egis Zaimaj is originally from Albania and she is in Lund to study a one-year masterâs program in accounting and management control.
âIn the future I am planning to work in Sweden. What intrigues me in Sweden is the work/life balance. Here the working hours are not to long and life is also important. It feel like there is also a better reward system and that social life is highly valued here,â says Egis Zaimaj.
She is most excited about Ikeas lunch lecture.
âIkea seems to be the perfect employer, at least from what I have heard,â says Egis Zaimaj.
âI prefer cold weatherâ
Another international student that has fallen for the Swedish way of doing things is Dorka Schattmann. âShe is originally from Hungary and first came to Sweden as an exchange student to study law. But then she went back to Hungary to finish her degree before returning to Sweden for an internship and to study Swedish.â
âI really like Sweden and I think that it would be great to live here. I especially like Lund and to be honest I prefer cold weather to warm weather.â
When asked about her dream job Dorka Schattmann knows what she wants.
âI would like to stay within law and work with innovation and start-ups in Lundâ
Sweden becomes their home Björn Sanders is the president of Lund University Student Unions Association and he believes that a lot of the international students do have a plan to try and get a job in Sweden.
âMy experience is that especially those who are studying a masterâs program or doing their doctoral degree have made Sweden into their home and therefore wish to stay,â says Björn Sanders.
However according to him a lot of the problems that these students encounter when trying to enter the job market is actually on a national level and therefore out of the unionâs hands.
âFor those students that are here on a student visa it is normally quite difficult to change it into a working visa. There also seem to be a lot of hesitation from Swedish companies towards hiring international co-workers,â says Björn Sanders.
The unions want to help out He is therefore very proud of the fact that the student unions have become more including and focus some of their work towards the international students and helping them.
âItâs wonderful to see the unions coming together and addressing this essential matter. To provide an opportunity for those international students that would like to stay in Sweden,â  says Björn Sanders.
The coordinators of International Day 2016. Photo: Tindra Englund.
Young peopleâs health is declining for each year. According to Student Health Counselling, it is a struggle to meet the growing needs. This year, the option for self-referral closed for Christmas earlier than ever before. š
Text by: Tindra Englund. Translation by: Carl- William ErsgĂ„rdÂ
âThis is of course stressful and frustrating for our employees. When all you want to do is help out it is difficult to have to refer students somewhere elseâ, says Lena Ărnberg, department manager at Student Health Counselling.
More self-referrals than ever Only during week 44, 49 students sent a self-referral to Student Health Counselling. This is more than ever before, and combined with a high application pressure during autumn, it forced Student Health Counselling to close for self-referrals early to catch up.
âOur drop-in is open until Christmas but also received so many visitors that for a couple of weeks, we had to send students home without having spoken to a counsellorâ, Lena Ărnberg says.
Struggle to meet the needs The numbers speak their clear language, and for each year, the number of students seeking help at Student Health Counselling increases. At the same time, there has not been a significant increase in grants, which has made it even more difficult to meet the demands.
Student Health Counselling follows the academic year and is closed over Christmas, Easter and summer.
âThe staff at Student Health Counselling has a teacherâs contract, meaning that full time is equivalent to an 87,5 percent employmentâ, Lena Ărnberg says.
According to her, there is a need today to increase capacity at Student Health Counselling.
âWe have begun discussing staying open for a larger part of the year. But at the same time, it would mean increased costs for the University, money that would be moved from already under-financed programmesâ, Lena Ărnberg says.
That Student Health Counselling is forced to stay closed for certain periods of time contributes to an even higher application pressure before and after these periods, according to Lena Ărnberg.
âThere are some clear peaks in the number of visitors each year. One such peak is in October/November, after which is levels out before Christmas. This year, we had to close for self-referrals a few weeks early, which is unfortunateâ, Lena Ărnberg says.
Students especially vulnerable Lena Ărnberg says that mental illnesses are increasing among your people each year, and there are also studies proving that students are among the especially vulnerable.
âIf you look at the mission statement of Student Health Counselling, it clearly states that we are not for emergencies but a complement to primary and psychiatric care when it comes to study related mental problems. Unfortunately, our experience is that the primary care and adult psychiatry in SkĂ„ne is currently so overladen that they refer students to usâ, Lena Ărnberg says.
As Student Health Counselling refers students with non-study related problems to the primary care, she admits that there is a risk that these persons are being sent back and forth.
New booking system Student Health Counselling has plans for streamlining its work for 2017.
âDuring 2016, we have been working on how to use our resources in the best possible way. Among other things, we will implement a new booking system in spring 2017â, Lena Ărnberg says.
Today, students usually approach Student Health Counselling through a self-referral, but since there is a lot of administration involved with these, there will instead be a booking system where the students can schedule themselves during available times.
âWe do this so that there will be a quicker entry for students, and so that counsellors can spend as much of their time as possible on actually meeting studentsâ, Lena Ărnberg says.
During 2017, Lund University have also planned to survey the students for their needs when it comes to support institutions at the University.
âWe hope to find out if we are doing the right thing, or if there is something else we should do. And if we need to increase our organisationâ, Lena Ărnberg says.
Money well spent Lena Ărnberg does think that the University can motivate spending money on projects such as the 350-years anniversary, and that it is good so put resources into a broader recruitment of students.
âBut when you recruit students, you must also have a system to take care of them. I personally believe that all investments into support institutions is money well spent, since they can help students feel good during they time at the University and manage to complete their studiesâ, says Lena Ărnberg, department manager at Student Health Counselling.
Facts:
Student Health Counselling is for problems related to student life. For example: stress, performance and exam anxiety, fear of speaking in front of others, procrastination, worry, alcohol related problems, sleep disorders and depression.
Student Health Counselling offers courses and workshops in various subjects each term, but also individual talks related to your situation as well as internet based treatment. The ambition at Student Health Counselling is to help students find the right help, even when what is offered at Student Health Counselling is not enough.
Silent culture, influence and sexual harassment. The secret order Hincus Medicus does not have a charming rumor. Medical students tell of a secret society that affects both student life and career.
Text by: Simon Appelqvist, Tindra Englund and Sebastian Rudolfsson
Translation: Elise Petersson
In connection with Medicinska föreningenâs (MF) Corbal (t/n. a formal dance held by MF) a spiteful discussion broke out on their Facebook page this September. Personal attacks and comparisons to Nazis succeeded one another, and several of the comments were removed by the moderator. In the end, MF decided to shut down the comments field.
The discussion concerned the poster used to advertise the ball. One side thought that the poster was in a âmusty old sexist styleâ, while the other side thought that it simply depicted âtwo people in traditional evening dress holding each otherâ.
But what actually happened, and how could a poster bring forth such strong emotions? We asked ourselves this question after receiving an anonymous tip that many of the people involved in the discussion also were active in the Hincus Medicus society.
LundagÄrd has spoken to around thirty people who have been in contact with the Society one way or another. Many of those we have spoken to claim that they are afraid of Hincus Medicus. Therefore, we have kept them anonymous in the text.
â The Secret Society â
Hincus Medicus is a secret society for men only, and was founded approximately 30 years ago. Every semester two new medical students are recruited, and the Society is partly famous for partying together, but also for helping each other gain high positions both in the student life and in the professional life.
âThey all have high positions and motivate all their members to take different posts in order to give each other benefits. Not only within MF, but also in nations in order for them to be able to attend balls and so onâ, says a source well versed in the ways of the Society.
Hincus also has a sister organization called Purpura. They have earlier been known mostly as companion ladies to Hincus since they frequently party together. But even the women elected into the Society tend to have high positions in student life.
Out of the many medical students LundagÄrd has been in contact with, many bear witness that they know of Hincus, and that it is a Society you do not want to criticize. Many are worried about the consequences it could result in, both in the student and professional life, since you do not know who is a part of the Society.
âWithin the Society exists a strong hierarchy where the elders control the younger members. Those who are already doctors decide how things should be and generally act poorly towards womenâ, says an anonymous source.
â Locus Medicus Lundensis â
Locus Medicus Lundensis, or âThe Doctorsâ Villaâ as it is often called, was in 1975 donated to the medical students of Lund by philanthropist Holger Craaford. The thought was for it to be used to promote âscientific medical researchâ and be part of the medical studentsâ âupbringing and educationâ. However, Locus Medicus has through the years been filled with various activities such as driving practices, soup lunches and pubs all arranged by MF. But the villa has also become an important gathering spot for the secret society Hincus.
Responsible for the continuous activities is the so called house supervisor. This person lives in the villa, and takes care of Locus Medicusâ reservations among other things. According to several sources LundagĂ„rd has been in contact with, members of Hincus have often held the post as house supervisor, which means the Society has had free access to the villa.
â Nabbing Attractive Positions â
Photo caption: The picture is arranged and is a pastiche of the 2016 Corbal poster. Photo: Siri Larsson
Even within the Faculty of Medicine, members of Hincus and Purpura have often held popular positions. At the faculty for example is something called assistant lecturerâs offices. These are often held by students, which means that they gain the trust to act as teachers for students in the lower grades. These positions are both sought after and give credit.
âRecruitment is not made on equal terms. There is an over-representation of Hincus members who have been given assistant lecturerâs offices and they been appointed in secret. Thereâs a lot of weird stuff going on around these offices and friend recruitment is commonâ, says Adam, a former medical student with close connections to Hincus.
According to Christer Larsson, manager of the medical program, the offices are announced and appointed in a correct manner, with regard to credits and earlier working experiences.
âNo one recognizes anything about any kind of friend recruitment. And about these societies, people do not know of them, you donât know whoâs a member which makes it rather hard to choose themâ, Christer Larsson says.
In a later interview, Christer Larsson admits that he is not sure how the offices are appointed since it is different from office to office, and that it often happens on âgrass root levelâ.
â Facilitates the Doctor Career â
According to several independent sources LundagÄrd has been in contact with it is not only coveted positions within the University that are appointed based on Society membership.
âI also know that Hincus members have received doctorâs positions no one else would have had a chance to get. I know members who, for example, have not yet gotten their license to practice medicine but have gotten internships at prestigious departments that otherwise requires a licenseâ, says Adam.
Members of Hincus and Purpura are often in MFâs Corbal committee, and are involved in nollningen (t/n. a type of initiation period for new students) in different ways. For example, several members have appeared as nollningsgeneral.
â An Anonymous SMS â
Each semester, during the medical studentsâ freshman period, two new male students are recruited to Hincus. They often have an upper class background and not seldom do they have parents who studied medicine in Lund themselves. According to some information they are also chosen into the Society for being âgood looking and sociableâ and âsuccessful with the ladiesâ.
During nollningsperioden, the aspiring Hincus members receive an anonymous SMS requesting them to come for an interview with an unknown member. Then, a longer admission process begins where they among other things get to meet with practicing doctors. While this process is going on, it is frequently pointed out to them how helpful a membership is for their future careers.
âI know that one of the older members work as some kind of mentor. A friend of mine was hesitant to join when he was asked by Hincus. But then the older member started to persuade him by saying that the âfraternityâ was there to help each other improveâ, Adam says.
â The Entrance Test â
The entrance test for Hincus partly involves that both candidates have to remove a birthmark from one another, according to some sources that have been in contact with LundagĂ„rd. They should under local anesthesia cut off the birthmark under supervision of the Societyâs so called âAldermanâ, a licensed doctor who is also a member of the Society. If no birthmark exists, only a piece of skin will be removed. The thought is to make a visible scar on the left thigh, and therefore a piece of the underlying flesh is also removed.
â Sexist Parties â
Most medical students know of Hincusâ existence. However, only a select few have insight on what actually happens at their parties.
Henrik Widegren, a profile in Lund, was as a new student in the 90s curious about the jaunty student life and was invited to a Hincus party by some older medical students.
âI remember singing raunchy songs, and can describe the night as a wet menâs dinner. A lot of it consisted of getting us younger students drunk. The alcohol was flowing and the songs were very sexist. Such an event is per definition sexist and excluding. The girls had their own party somewhere else, but we met up later that eveningâ, says Henrik Widegren.
His involvement with Hincus was short lived and ended there and then.
âThere were many other things about the student life that seemed more fun, so the Society was not prioritized. I was invited several times but politely declinedâ, Henrik Widegren says.
â The âEntertainmentâ â
In connection with Lundâs Economy Studentsâ Ball in 1998, LundagĂ„rd uncovered that Hincus had hired a
Caption: Illustration from LundagĂ„rd no. 9-10 1998, for the article âMedical students hired stripperâ about Hincus Medicus. Illustration: Archive/Mira Nameth.
stripper for their pre-party.
The stripper entered the room, dressed in a dark hood and removed all of her clothing until only the panties remained. In one hand she held a whip, which she put around their necks. The party cheered and she straddled a participant who sucked on her breast. Later, she covered her breasts in whipped cream and let another participant lick it off.
The party arrangers were among others MFâs former chairman Martin Ugander, and Magnus Hellström, MFâs sexmĂ€stare (t/n. a person who arranges parties at student nations) at the time. The arrangers thought that it was fully normal entertainment for the occasion and that it was appreciated by the attendees.
â Like a Catwalk â
 Another, more common, occurrence at Hincus parties are women dressed in nothing but underwear serving the men.
âIt becomes a sort of catwalk, where you walk between the tables to fill up the glassesâ, a source who wishes to remain anonymous tells us.
However, in the fall of 2015 an incident happened that evolved into something completely different.
âYou do not tell anything about a brotherâ.
Opinions on what actually happened in the fall of 2015 differ. Some think that it only was a few individuals who did something stupid while drunk, others describe it as sexual harassments.
âItâs not a coincidence that it happened there. Within Hincus there is a peer pressure that can make good people do bad thingsâ, says one of the sources who wishes to remain anonymous.
Despite the serious nature of the incident it was suppressed. Several of the younger Hincus members were questioning and distancing themselves from what had happened, but the older members disregarded it as something stupid that had occurred between individuals and nothing the Society should take responsibility for or investigate further. No police report was made, and according to a source the men involved are still active within the Society.
âThere is a silent culture where you always protect each other and where you also lie to each other. So, even if you know itâs true you lie for the others sake for them to have a positive outward image. âYou do not tell anything about a brotherâ, as they often sayâ, the source tells us.
However, when Hincusâ sister organization Purpura found out what had happened they took the incident seriously, and according to the same source as earlier they decided to exclude the four men involved from their parties.
âBefore there was the idea that Purpura simply existed in order to act as companion ladies for Hincus. But lately they have gradually started to separate themselves from Hincus because they believe they do things that are too questionableâ, says a source who wants to remain anonymous.
â MF and Hincusâ Relationship Today â
In connection with the stripper scandal in 1998, several of the people involved were trusted
Members of Medicinska föreningen (MF). But MFâs current chairwoman Madeleine Lehander claims that MF as an organization does not have any ties to the society Hincus Medicus.
âI am aware that there in the past have been a clear association between Hincus and MF, but now itâs just that some students are members of both organizations. And what people do with their private time we neither can nor want to interfere withâ, Madeleine Lehander says.
â Nollningsbrevet â
Several of the students in charge of nollningen and the educational elements during the first semester of medical studies, as have been described earlier, are either members of Hincus or Purpura.
But what happens when the culture of these two societies are allowed to lay the foundation for the culture of the new medical students in Lund?
In April 2013, 23 medical students sent a document to the people responsible for the medical program. In ânollningsbrevetâ (t/n. a letter sent out to new students who will attend nollningen) they criticize, for example, the sex incitement and sexism that they experienced during the freshman period.
One example is the song book dinner in 2012, were all the girls had to sit in âSantaâsâ lap in order to know their table seating. Santa was a male medical student from the tenth semester who was dressed in only underwear and an open dressing gown. According to the studentsâ letters it was an âoffensive element that was experienced as uncomfortable for several of the participants, although they were afraid to speak up at the timeâ.
During several dinners the new students were split up depending on their gender. Several dinners also included older students stripping for the new ones. In nollningsbrevet a culture with a heteronormative view on sexuality is described, and it incites the freshmen to have sex with both each other and faddrarna (t/n. the upperclassmen who function as mentors during nollningen).
â An Unsafe Study Environment â
One of the medical students who helped writing nollningsbrevet was Sara WĂ€rnsberg.
âAfter a nollning that contained a lot of sexist elements I withdrew from the student life of the medical program since I think the culture there is unpleasant and narrow minded. Itâs also shocking that so many people participate in these activities without thinking something is wrongâ, Sara WĂ€rnsberg says.
Both Sara WÀrnsberg and several of the other medical students LundagÄrd has talked to describe the fear that many students feel.
âYou donât want to tell what itâs like for several reasons. Partly because you donât want to be disliked and exposed. There is also the culture of what happens within the closed doors of the doctors stays there. Maybe the thought is to not get on bad terms with future colleaguesâ, Sara WĂ€rnsberg says.
The first three semesters all medical students study in Lund, but starting from semester four they are given the opportunity to choose between studying in Lund or Malmö.
âIf youâre tired of or feel uncomfortable in the jaunty student life in Lund you see this as a chance to escape and choose Malmö insteadâ, Sara WĂ€rnsberg, who decided to switch to Malmö, says.
With the writing of the ânollningsbrevetâ MF took responsibility for the medical nollning and the faculty put money into educating faddrarna on how to avoid alcohol incitement and unhealthy group dynamics.
But according to Sara WĂ€rnsberg, there is still an air of sexist humor within many parts of the medical studentsâ life despite MFâs work with nollningen. And she was not surprised when she saw this yearâs Corbal poster.
âThe Medical Association has an old history and it has been around for a long time. I think this is a sad heritage that increases and continues through students from generation to generationâ, Sara WĂ€rnsberg says.
â âA Democratic Rightâ â
Vice dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Cecilia Lundberg, sees no issue with employees at the faculty being members of a secret society together with students. Furthermore, she believes that the faculty has no business knowing what the employees do in their free time.
âBeing a part of associations is actually a democratic right and nothing an employer should have opinions onâ, says Cecilia Lundberg, vice dean with special responsibility for education on basic and advanced levels.
However, she thinks it would be problematic if an employee examined a person they had some sort of relation with.
âThat is called a delicate conflict of interest and it is part of an examiners roll to inform if they have been that. You are not allowed to examine someone you have a conflict of interest with or against and thatâs nothing strangeâ, Cecilia Lundberg says.
According to Cecilia Lundberg she has never heard that Hincus Medicus is supposedly a secret society, or that there are students who are afraid of them.
âI think it would be very sad if that was the truth, but I havenât heard about the Society since I was a student, and at that time it wasnât secret. Of course its highly inappropriate with an organization that intimidates people in that manner. However, that is nothing the faculty has influence over or anything to do with. As little as the bird watching association âGladanâ (t/n. âThe Red Kiteâ, a bird of prey)â, says vice dean Cecilia Lundberg.
â Decreasing Influence â
Photo caption: The picture is arranged. Photo: Siri Larsson
Every year the number of female doctors in Sweden increases, and in 2015 42 percent of all doctors were women. On MFâs board there are currently only women, and last year MF started an equality committee.
Now, letâs return to the Facebook discussion about the Corbal poster. The discussion was started by a female medical student who questioned MF and its equality committee that supported the poster she thought was sexist.
The issue turned out to be extremely sensitive, and perhaps part of the explanation lies in the internal culture of the medical students. On MFâs Facebook page two trenches were dug and an infected war formed. On one side, people who were tired of the jaunty student lifeâs sexist tone and wanted change. The other side wanted to preserve the tradition, many of these were members of Hincus.
After considering all opinions presented, MF decided to withdraw the poster.
âWe stand for the opinions of our members and they thought it should be replaced. The majority of the board members gathered and decided to change the pictureâ, says Madeleine Lehander, chairwoman of MF.
Perhaps this should be seen as a sign that Hincusâ influence is being restricted?
â An Unhealthy Culture â
Sten Axelson Fisk is a board member of Socialistic Doctors and a former medical student. Like many others he heard about Hincus during his first semester at the medical program, and he has become famous as one of the few who has openly criticized them.
âIn the nature of the issue lies that you donât know very much, but you know for sure that they exist, and many know at least some people who are members. Itâs a classical way the patriarchy works in, men having each otherâs backsâ, Sten Axelson Fisk says.
His perception of those who are members of Hincus is that they are not necessarily unsound people themselves.
âBut you do become a part of a very unhealthy culture when you maintain this society and everyone who keeps quiet about it. You may be scared, but as doctors we also need a little bit of courage to keep our own house cleanâ, Sten Axelson Fisk says.
LundagĂ„rd has also tried reaching the âaldermanâ but he did not want to leave any comments or answer any questions.
âAdamâ is actually called something else.
Do you know more about Hincus? Give us tips at lundagard@lundagard.se . You can also contact us on 072-7444020 or through the encrypted texting service Signal.
Text by: Simon Appelqvist, Tindra Englund and Sebastian Rudolfsson.
Do not expect to be happy during the darkest time of the year. Lower your demands and prioritize your friends. The psychologist of the Student Health Centre (StudenthÀlsan) gives ten pieces of advice to make you feel better mentally during winter.
By: Tindra Englund, Â Translated by: Cecilia Eriksson
Make sure that you keep your circadian rhythm regulated even though the darkness makes it harder the get up in the morning. If you sleep in, you will have a harder time falling asleep at night which could affect the entire following day.
If you have a hard time falling asleep, make sure you turn off the screens on all of your devices one hour before bedtime.
If you are feeling unwell, try reaching out for support. And even if you are feeling tired and unmotivated, try to stay in contact with family and friends.
Try exposing yourself to light as much as possible. Go outside, even on a cloudy day, and make sure you have a lot of light indoors. Light colors on the walls and a white oilcloth can help, since it reflects the light. Sit next to a window as you study to absorb the light.
Stay active. Take walks/work out.
Find things to look forward to that can light up the long darkness of winter.
Mind what you eat. You can also supplement your diet by adding vitamin D. Some studies show that vitamin D has a positive effect on both your brain and your mood and during winter a lot of people suffer from a vitamin D deficiency.
Be cautious when it comes to alcohol. A lot of the time, students use alcohol as a means of dealing with difficult emotions which only makes them feel worse.
Try finding a balance between studying and your spare time as a way of dealing with stress. Too much stress during longer periods of time can be a cause for declining mental health.
Lower your demands and expectations. Remind yourself that the season of darkness is temporary!
Last week, LundagÄrd revealed that Student Health Centre (StudenthÀlsan) has faced difficulties in seeing to the needs of students. Ulrika Linse Strömland is a psychologist at Student Health Centre in Lund. She believes that the increased number of people reaching out is because of many different reasons.
Written by Tindra Englund. Translated by Rebecka McKinnon Forsell
â What many Swedish students give as a reason is the complexity of everyday life. On the one hand, itâs amazing that there are so many possibilities, but on the other hand it puts a lot of responsibility on the individual person since nothing is for certain, says Ulrika Linse Strömland.
According to her there was a more clear routine to follow earlier which led to a simpler everyday life.
â Today you compare yourself to not only the 25 others in your class but to people all over the world on social media, says Ulrika Linse Strömland.
Forced situation At Student Health Centre the situation is forced according to her. There has been a pattern in earlier years, with highs and lows. But during the autumn of 2016 the level of people reaching out has been constantly high.
â The reasons for reaching out is the same as previous years, stress, performance anxiety, general anxiety, depression and procrastination. But we have also noticed bigger severity in the problems in general. Those reaching out are feeling worse and have lower ability than earlier, says Ulrika Linse Strömland.
If the education has less structure with fewer lectures and attendance it could be a contribuing factor to the students having a harder time planning their studies which leads to more stress, with more procrastination and worsened mental health.
â We have also noticed that often during periods of more self studies and less structure there is a pattern in that the students are feeling more unwell, says Ulrika Linse Strömland.
International students are more exposed She has also noticed that the more exposed group are the international students.
â With the exception of the problems that the Swedish students are experiencing, the international students are affected by the adaption. An adaption both in cultural and social codes but also from the perspective of planning and education. If you have had some kind of trouble with stress, anxiety or depression earlier in your home country it can sometimes be worsened when you find yourself in a new environment without support from home, says Ulrika Linse Strömland.
Another contributing factor that the international students are mentioning is the darkness of the autumn and winter.
â Us Swedes are also affected by the darkness, but we know that it is getting lighter already in December and that after Christmas it will turn and slowly get lighter. Since we know that it will turn and the light will come back we lower our standards until then, says Ulrika Linse Strömland.
During autumn, Student Health Centre has together with external relations had a lecture in how you are affected by the lack of light and what you can do to not suffer from winter fatigue and depression, the so called âwinter bluesâ.
You can read about Ulrika Linse Strömlandâs top 10 tips HERE.
2017 marks the 350th anniversary of Lund University. In preparation for the year of celebration, the University has invested 22 million SEK of its regular budget, however student involvement has so far been low.
Text by: Paula Dubbink
Lund University has vastly invested a sum of 22 million Swedish crowns in its 350th birthday party. The money to finance this comes from the Universityâs regulatory budget: money that the University gets from the state for education and research.
This doesnât mean, however, that education or research has received less money because of the anniversary. Carina Jensen, Anniversary Coordinator tells about the use of this money:
âIn 2012, 22 million was set aside for the anniversary. Faculties have organised lectures and seminars that also would have taken place during normal years. The difference is that we have planned this program with all faculties together, and added âsparklesâ to some events. We will also use more channels to give bigger attention to what is going at the University. The students have been our most important target group and most events are open to them.â
The first planning of the anniversary started already in late 2011.
Apart from the state money, the University has also gathered funds for specific anniversary events amounting to six million SEK.
As it currently stands, the programme includes two culture weeks are included, one in May with a focus on music, and one in the fall with several exhibitions. A number of theme weeks filled with lectures and seminars about current issues such as sustainability and digitalization are also featured.
Student-organized activities are however lacking on the planning.
Carina Jensen says that this is not due to a lack of interest from the organizersâ side.
âWe have tried to engage the students in 2012 already, but obviously it was hard for students to be involved in something several years away. I am confident that many spontaneous anniversary events organized by the students will come up during the coming year. We still have money set aside for student-organized activities and students can still come to us with proposals.â
Ludvig Bodelsson, chair of Kuratorskollegiet, the cooperative body of Lundâs nations, confirms that the plans for a nation events are indeed not very concrete yet.
âWe have good contact with the University about the Anniversary. Right now, the plan is to have a âNation Dayâ somewhere in the Fall of 2017.â
The student unions in their turn will have their main event on May 20th 2017, when they will also celebrate their own anniversary: 150 years of student influence at the University.
A classic trip for the visitor or the ones living in Helsingborg is to take the ferry over to Denmark and back with a one-way ticket. For those who want to see more there are lovely daytrips to HelsingĂžr. Make time to visit Kronberg castle where Shakespeareâs famous play Hamlet is depicted. Later you can visit central HelsingĂžr for a bit of sightseeing and restaurant-going in our neighbor country.
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