Aalto University Student Union
Release, 14 March 2014
For immediate release

Aalto University Student Union (AYY) and Aalto University Properties Ltd have today signed a contract of sale for Dipoli. The purchase price was eight million five hundred thousand (8,500,000) euro.

Discussions on the selling of Dipoli building have been ongoing already in TKY’s Representative Council since 2005. After a pre-agreement expired at the end of 2012, AYY’s Representative Council entitled the Board and the Financial Committee to continue the search for buyer candidates for Dipoli at its meeting on 28 Feb 2013. An advisory board was established to promote the sale of the property, which has actively negotiated with Aalto University Properties Ltd throughout the year. AYY’s Representative Council approved the offer of Aalto University Properties Ltd at its meeting on 19 Dec 2013.

”It is fantastic that this long process has now been completed. I believe that along with the new owner, Dipoli will become an increasingly important part of the campus” says Chairperson of AYY Board Lauri Lehtoruusu.

One of AYY’s predecessor student unions, the Student Union of Helsinki University of Technology (TKY), built Dipoli to be the student union building as the successor of Vanha Poli when the Helsinki University of Technology was transferred to Otaniemi in Espoo. After the architecture contests, the building was designed by Raili and Reima Pietilä. Dipoli’s foundation stone was laid on 12 March 1965 and the inauguration of the building was celebrated on 29 Sept 1966. In 1968, Cone Statue designed by Reijo Perkko was erected in front of Dipoli. Since the 1990s, the building has been rented to Helsinki University of Technology (TKK) and later it has been used as Aalto University’s education and conference centre.

Further information:

Chairperson of AYY Board Lauri Lehtoruusu lauri.lehtoruusu@ayy.fi, 050 520 9420

Chief Financial Officer Reija Väätäinen reija.vaatainen@ayy.fi, 040 709 5900

On Friday 14 March at 9:30-12:00, the two national unions for higher education students in Finland, SAMOK and SYL, will arrange an EU elections panel discussion Listen, EU!, focusing on themes relevant to students and youth.

The panel discussion includes top names from all the main parties:

Miapetra Kumpula-Natri (Social Democratic Party), Anni Sinnemäki (Green League), Sampo Terho (True Finns), Björn Månsson (Swedish People’s Party), Annika Lapintie (Left Alliance), Petri Sarvamaa (National Coalition Party), Anneli Jäätteenmäki (Centre Party), and Juha Richter (Christian Democrats).

Europe is growing grey, and EU struggles with a lack of confidence in the union. Questions we will put to the candidates include: What can EU offer the younger generation? How can EU decision-making be made more transparent and understandable? Why should students at all be interested in EU and decisions being made in Brussels? How can students and youth be heard? Is the European Commission sneaking in to national education policy through a back door?

Welcome to partake in the toughest election debate this spring!

Event Students’ EU elections panel discussion Listen, EU!

• Time: Friday 14 March, 9:30-12:00
• Venue: Eurooppasali (Malminkatu 16, Helsinki)
• In social media: #kuuleEU

Programme:

• 9:30 Coffee and meeting the panellists
• 10:00 Opening, presidents Toni Asikainen (SAMOK) and Piia Kuosmanen (SYL)
• 10:10-12:00 Panel discussion: Listen, EU!

Moderators: presidents Mariam Rguibi (JEF Finland) and Mikko Valtonen (STTK Students). The panel discussion is in Finnish.

The discussion will be streamed live.  The streaming link is https://new.livestream.com/muunne/kuule-eu ja the same information about the link will  also be found at both SYL’s (www.syl.fi) and SAMOK’s (www.samok.fi) websites.

You can also participate in the discussion in Twitter and Facebook. The best questions on Twitter will be selected and put to the participating candidates. The hashtag for social media is #kuuleEU.

Media representatives are welcome to the panel discussion.

The students’ panel discussion is also the kickoff for the Finnish higher education students’ EU election campaign, called Listen, EU! – A Europe for students. During spring, SYL and SAMOK will arrange different election events, campaigns and discussions in different cities throughout Finland, together with local student unions.

Additional information:

Vice-president Jari Järvenpää (SYL), tel. +358 44 906 5005, jari.jarvenpaa(at)syl.fi Executive committee member Anniina Sippola (SAMOK), tel. +358 50 389 1004, anniina.sippola(at)samok.fi

The event can also be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1388849054720615/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

SYL: http://www.facebook.com/SYL.FIN, http://www.twitter.com/SYL_FIN

SAMOK: http://www.samok.fi, http://www.facebook.com/SAMOK.FIN, http://www.twitter.com/SAMOK_FIN

Release
6 Mar 2014
Aalto University Student Union

Aalto University Student Union (AYY) is shocked and worried about the stabbing incident, which took place yesterday in front of Dipoli. AYY constantly cooperates with the University, FSHS and regional health care units in order to promote well-being and prevent violent situations.

The entire student community has an important role in the prevention. No person should be allowed to drop through the human safety net. Community support is important for each of us, and especially for those who have any worries. In addition to early intervention, it is important to provide adequate resources for the promotion of physical and mental well-being.

”The most dangerous scenario that could happen to each of us is to be left alone with your worries”, says Chair of AYY Board Lauri Lehtoruusu. ”The best cure for this is a functinoing, approving and healthy community.”

Further information:

Chair of AYY Board Lauri Lehtoruusu: 050 5209 420, lauri.lehtoruusu@ayy.fi
AYY’s Secretary General Janne Koskenniemi:  050 5209 415, janne.koskenniemi@ayy.fi

Due to the violent situation, a debriefing session will be organised for the students and staff in TU2 auditorium in TUAS Building (Otaniementie 17) at 1pm on 7 March. The event is open to all who are affected by the case or consider necessary to discuss the raised emotions with experts. Professionals from FSHS and Terveystalo will also be present in the event.

Crisis support is available for students at FSHS. http://www.yths.fi/vastaanotto_ja_neuvonta/mielenterveys/kriisiapu (yths.fi)

Professor Esa Saarinen was attacked in front of Dipoli in Otaniemi on Wednesday, 5 March. The police were called to the scene and the suspect has been arrested by the police. Professor Saarinen was taken to the hospital and his life is not in danger.

Due to the situation, crisis support is available at FSHS. A debriefing session will be organised for the students and staff. The date will be announced later. Please follow the University’s communications at Into and Inside.

Further information:

Aalto University’s Head of Communications Eeva Lehtinen, tel. 050 321 7034
Aalto University’s Head of Communications Eveliina Olsson, tel. 050 598 6492

Have you lost something? Otaniemi Service Point has stored lost property saved from various events (mainly organised in Otaniemi). Lost property includes coats, backpacks, overalls, tailcoat, gloves, woolly hats, song books, car keys, etc. Please come and pick up your property immediately.

Uncollected lost property, which is currently stored, will be disposed of on Monday, 17 Mar 2014.

On Monday, 17 March, useful goods will be delivered to Otaniemi Recycling Centre and valuable goods (car keys, jewellery, etc.) will be delivered to Espoo Police Station. Dirty and broken goods will be placed in the bin.

In the future, you can inquire lost property from Otaniemi Service Point for two weeks after the event in question.