in english arkistot - Oulun ylioppilaslehti

Enabling the Good Life for the Student

The new secretary general for the Student Union of the University of Oulu Eetu Leinonen seeks to fix the problems that he himself has seen and experienced as a student and as a youngster.

Ihmiset In English Päähenkilö Tuttu kasvo kampukselta

TEKSTI Tuuli Heikura

KUVAT Tuuli Heikura

When Eetu Leinonen was asked about who he is he answered that for a short while he’s still a student. The 26-year-old Leinonen has a master’s degree in philosophy and studies the Finnish language. He has also been serving as the secretary general for the Student Union of the University of Oulu (OYY) from the end of March after the previous secretary general Kauko Keskisärkkä moved on to other duties. Leinonen was chosen unanimously in a student council meeting on the 13th of February.

The job description is not really that simple. The general secretary of the Student Union of the University of Oulu is responsible for the work at the office, the workers and making sure that the financial and administrative duties are going well. In addition the job includes promotion of interests, stakeholder co-operation and corporate governance with the chairman of the administration.

Leinonen also has to do a bunch of representative work. His past as an active youngster politician is part of the reason why it is him who is the general secretary of OYY. He has a long career of organization work and chairmanships. For example he was the chairman of OYY back in 2020.

Leinonen’s story goes all the way back to his high school years and the youth council of Utajärvi which according to him made him interested in youth politics. Ever since then Leinonen has been involved in youth and student politics. This continues to this day. Leinonen is interested in internationality and represents the youth in international arenas as an EU delegate for the Finnish youth.

Leinonen returns for a fourth term in OYY duties. After the chairmanship he has served as the specialist of academic affairs’ substitute as well as the community specialist. In between these positions there has been a break during which Leinonen worked for multiple employers the latest example being the mobility services for the University of Oulu.

The personal motivation for working for a better life for the students made Leinonen come back to OYY. “As a youngster and a student I have a desire to fix the problems I have seen or experienced.”

Leinonen’s motives are not totally altruistic. The experienced, hard boiled student activist and a youth politician sees the position of the general secretary as an opportunity to improve himself with something that would otherwise take a long time.

“You rarely get an opportunity like this at 26 years old. Being the foreperson of a group of eight people and an organization like this and planning the financial aspects of it.”

Plenty of experience from the University of Oulu and the academic community help a lot in succeeding at the task at hand. “My past as a student activist, lobbying experience and all the different tasks in OYY as well as the university as a whole give a wide image of what the university and its community are like. Youth politics have helped out in knowing how to bring the voice of the youth on to the surface and how to lobby.”

A Good Life for the Student

Leinonen observes the activity of OYY from the inside. He sees the student union as an influential part of the university. OYY is a respected and well appreciated organization.

Despite this Leinonen admits that the regular student might be alienated from the organization. The student union is not on the same level as student organizations which are often very close to students’ hearts. “Organizations run by the students do incredibly valuable work for the student community.”

The point of OYY is not to replace the student organizations. It is a promoter of interests and a service organization.

“The student union is an instrument. The students are what makes the university an university and the student union a student union. However, an organization of 12 500 members is most difficult to have an influence on every single student’s life”, Leinonen explains. He admits that OYY’s achievements could be more visible to students.

The general secretary promotes the interests of the students with support and working as an enabler. “The student union is an organization that helps many people grow. It is where you come to learn and get opportunities to try things out.”

Leinonen’s job is to support the administration and the representative council so that they succeed in what they do. On the other hand he enables the work to be done with the creation of proper networks. Previous experience with the youth councils help out in this too. “Lobbying and influencing aren’t easy nor fast or done alone in a single night so I’m sure that I will have a role in that too.”

To Leinonen the motto of OYY “A good life for students” is about finding your own place in the academic world. This view is shaped by his past as the community expert.

“When someone comes to study here they should find their own place in this community be it as an activist, in the administration, or just in a simple friend group. Also that everyone should find their own path, what they want to do in the future.”

The new general secretary reminds us that support during studies is important. “To avoid burnouts and that the workload isn’t too heavy so they can be completed so the next step in life can be taken.”

According to Leinonen, OYY’s promotion of interests supports the communication between student organizations and the university’s governance. “So that the students gain support services that help them out in their studies and that people can meet each other here at the campus and find each other.”

The life of the student needs livelihood and hope for the future

A good life for the students doesn’t just mean that everything is great inside the campus walls. Leinonen is concerned about the financial situation and the employment opportunities of the students. “Many haven’t gotten jobs from the types of careers that usually have a great deal of them.”

According to him, the life of the student needs more hope for the future. That the students’ own place in the world can be found after graduation and that during them they don’t drive themselves into massive financial debts.

“Studying has never been an easy part of life where you can just do as you please. Nowadays gaining livelihood is harder and student debt just adds more pressure about graduating faster.”

He adds that when the studies are planned by the university they do not take into consideration that the student often needs to work during them. Both of these factors at the same time can drive the student weary. “This is unsustainable.”

Taking a look into the future reveals that the population is getting older and that the amount of students is decreasing. Leinonen is worried about the diminishing vitality of Oulu and its employment opportunities. “Could we be in a situation where this city no longer is of interest to anyone?”

When asked about the future of the University of Oulu the brand new secretary general points out the importance of internationality and examining space issues. He hopes that during the decision making process it is taken into consideration that the solutions do not affect the quality of the education or strain the employees.

The diminishing population groups especially hit hard on students and the funding that the higher educational institutions get from the government. Solutions for these problems have been sought from internationalization. Leinonen would like to see the opportunities for continuous and lifelong learning also remembered here. “Working-age people have needs for updating their knowledge, and it doesn’t always have to be studies leading to a degree, which are used to update their skills.”

Also the university’s new real estate strategy work investigates what kind of space is needed in the future. “With the solutions there can be taken actions towards a campus that is truly needed in the future.”

As the general secretary Leinonen wants to be a human-like actor.

“Someone who people aren’t afraid of to come and talk or give feedback to. I want to make it clear that I want to be with the people.”

In addition he wants to advance his own skills. “I think leading is a thing that there is not a singular way to learn it. It comes with experience.”

Fact box:

Name: Eetu Leinonen

Education: Master of Philosophy, statistics (2023). Currently studying Finnish for the sixth year.

Age: 26

From: Utajärvi

Hobbies: Handcraft, knitting and crocheting, reading, playing music. He plays the clarinet.

Language skills: Finnish, English, Swedish, German and French.

Positions of trust: currently serves as Finland’s youth delegate to the EU. Leinonen has a long history in youth organizations and politics.

Julkaistu 6.5.202512.5.2025

Tuuli Heikura

Oulun ylioppilaslehden päätoimittaja ja kauppatieteiden maisteri, joka nauttii syväluotaavista ilmiöjutuista, kuluttaa lenkkipolkuja kahden koiransa kanssa ja haaveilee mankelin omistamisesta.

Lue lisää:

The Colourful World of Student Organization Magazines

In the University of Oulu many student organizations publish their own magazines. The content in these magazines is usually very carefree and funny. A shining example of this is Terminaali. Amidst the silly magazines, alone stands the artistic Kultisti. Why are magazines the way they are?

In English Yleinen

TEKSTI Arttu Vuorio

KUVAT Tuuli Heikura

Once upon a time, not so long ago at my student organization’s guild room my eye was struck by an odd magazine on the coffee table. The student organization for computer science and engineering OTiT’s magazine Terminaali. On the cover there boasts a teekkari with two OTiT-branded lightsabers and a marking “One of the magazines of all time!”. It intrigued me and I picked the issue up.

The content did not disappoint. The amateurish layout, whole bunch of memes, and low-to-no-class-tier articles filled the pages. Definitely one of the magazines of all time.

At the same time I glanced at cultural researchers’ magazine Kultisti and pondered on how its articles are prim and proper not resembling Terminaali or any other student organization’s magazine at all.

The spectrum of student organization magazines is clearly a wide one. It made me ask the question: why aren’t all of them as silly as Terminaali or as serious as Kultisti?

A magazine just for the students

Typical for the student culture in Finland is the publication of an own magazine for the student organization. Despite this almost none of them include relevant information for the organization or announce their official statements. The content is often very frivolous and nonserious. The articles are just like their students. Topics are anything from reviews, reports on student events or parties, and from short stories to humoristic strings of text. The magazines are written either by the editorial staff or with just the editor-in-chief with the help of the regular students.

Student organization magazines have always and will always look like the students that write them. The editor-in-chief is chosen by a vote for a term of one year by the students. This means that the content of the magazine won’t get stale and will evolve with new students.

Proper or raunchy?

Magazines made by teekkaris often are the most unserious of them all. OTiT’s Terminaali is a by-the-book example of this. The bar for what is released scrapes the floor and the graphic design can be pretty much anything. Dirty jokes and memes fill the pages.

However, this is not a bad thing.

In the ocean of similar magazines the silliness of Terminaali is a breath of fresh air. Since all of the other magazines are alike, a magazine that tries to be as ridiculous as possible is a great thing.

If Terminaali does not take anything seriously, Kultisti is its opposite. The magazine produced by the student organization for archeology, literature and cultural anthropology Kultu ry from front to back is appropriate. Most of the content in it is seriousminded and artistic. This is not a coincidence. Ever since the magazine started appearing it was meant to be different from the other less serious magazines.

Furthermore, since Kultu ry is the student organization for students of literature producing convincing texts come naturally to them adding to the professional atmosphere of the magazine.

A voice of the students: An interview with the editor-in-chief of Terminaali

What is the nature of Terminaali and Kultisti and what do the editors-in-chief think about the content in their respective magazines?

The editor-in-chief for Terminaali is the first year student of computer science Julius Kuruheimo. In OTiT he was elected as the “information minister” whose job among other things is to edit Terminaali.

Terminaali did before, approximately before the year 2020, in fact resemble a regular student organization magazine. This doesn’t mean that the magazine was always prim and proper. An example of the built-in raunchy humor of the magazine is the fact that a lightly clothed or a naked woman can be found in every issue of the magazine since 1998. Nowadays the content has been going towards a previously less serious direction.

According to Kuruheimo what affects the content of the magazine the most are the students and what they choose to write about which is why he doesn’t see a simple reason for the change. The main point of Terminaali is to bring forth the voice of the students of the organization so it should also look like the students themselves.

The content of the magazine sprouts from the students but the editorial staff is not totally powerless in deciding on what is released. Not everything can be published even though at first it might seem like it. Offensive articles or personal attacks will not be tolerated by Kuruheimo. “The magazine is meant to make people laugh, not offend.”

Kuruheimo reveals that the editorial staff has been considering making the magazine more serious. “Already there are “half-serious” articles in there but all in all the magazine looks like its editors”, Kuruheimo said. He also brings forth the possibility of creating a new fully serious magazine with articles that possibly could not be found in Terminaali.

Relating to if Kuruheimo would like to continue in the field of journalism he said that it is a possibility. Even if this career path is not for certain he confessed that he likes to write.

Bringing together the creative folks: An interview with the editors-in-chief of Kultisti

Next up we have the editors-in-chief for Kultisti: Anni Koivisto and Aino Uusitalo. Both of them are literature students. Koivisto is a first year student and Uusitalo is a second year student.

Both Koivisto and Uusitalo thought up the idea for being the editor-in-chief independently from each other. Uusitalo enjoys writing and organizing things which is why the position of the editor-in-chief was of interest. As well as enjoying writing Koivisto also is keen on graphic design. She has designed the layouts for all of the Kultisti issues she has made so far.

Uusitalo states that the editor-in-chief is more of an organizer than a writer. She and Koivisto do not write anything in the issues apart from the editorial. Other than that the magazine consists of other people’s texts.

Multiple editors-in-chief positions aren’t new for Kultisti. During Kultu ry’s former government’s reign there were also two of them but before that there has traditionally only been a singular editor-in-chief as Koivisto puts it. Uusitalo praises the arrangement since the workload is well distributed with two persons working on the same magazine.

“Kultisti is a magazine that is made with group work”, Uusitalo exclaims. She says that a designated group makes the magazines but anyone can submit an article to be published.

Special qualities of Kultisti are the sections that consistently appear in every issue. Other student organization magazines barely have these but Kultisti has multiple. For example comic series by the nickname “Jemma” called Naali Lipastossa has a new story in every issue. The comic features an arctic fox and other fluffy animal friends in relatable situations at Oulu university. Another consistently appearing section is the Friend Book in which students interview lecturers and professors about their favorite things.

The magazine has always strived to stand out from the rest. The magazine has been described by the former editors-in-chief in a letter to the new ones as “a more psychedelic and an artistic one” when compared to the others. At the same time they admit that the magazine is on a course to become more like the others.

Uusitalo is intrigued by the “psychedelicness”. She thinks that the magazine clearly stands out. Both of the editors-in-chief believe that they own an artistic vision with each magazine. Humor has not been forgotten however. For example, a couple of issues ago released Kultuskooppi horoscope series was made with a loose attitude. According to Koivisto it would be wonderful if the magazine had more jokes in it. “Everything doesn’t have to be serious.”

Kultisti has made great use of social media as a marketing tool and making especially the literature students aware of the magazine’s existence. “We know that literature students like to write for themselves. We are trying to make Kultisti into a zero pressure environment so they would get the courage to release their texts in the magazine or at least on our social media”, Uusitalo says.

Koivisto thinks it would be amazing if the feeling of a regular student organization magazine would be preserved in Kultisti. The issue that’s aimed at the first year students released next autumn is promised to be funny in a way that is very inline with the magazine.

When asked about what the point of the magazine is, Uusitalo confidently exclaimed: “This magazine brings together creative folk”.

Koivisto would like to work in the field of journalism in the future. Especially writing columns and articles would be to her taste. Uusitalo is not so sure but has gone through the communication studies.

The editors-in-chief know also that there is more to life than work. “We celebrate new issues by going for a drink!”

Not so different after all?

The differences between Terminaali and Kultisti are obvious. The magazines not only are different in content but also the editorial staff has some ideological differences so to say. Kultisti drives to make itself less serious when at the same time trying to keep a grip on its own image meanwhile Terminaali tries to be more serious but still being a silly teekkari magazine.

Both magazines are unique in their own way. They are very different from other student organization magazines since they do things that the others won’t. The other magazines contain humorous articles and on occasion more serious content. For example the history students’ Praavda magazine is not as artistic and serious as Kultisti.

The other magazines do not really have anything that makes them different. This is not a bad thing since the magazines are still unique in their own way, just less so than Kultisti or Terminaali.

A change in the editorial staff’s attitude towards a more unique magazine would not be a disadvantage. Experimentation in creative work is great, even encouraged since creative work without new ideas is not simply creative. Without innovation or experimentation, creativity withers away and the same old ideas are repeated over and over.

The change doesn’t have to be eternal. If something new doesn’t work it can be replaced with the old. These sorts of situations aren’t a hindrance. They are a learning experience.

The content of the magazines is at the end of the day in the hands of the students. If they do not want the change, it will never happen. And that is great. The magazines exist for the students by the students.

Julkaistu 2.5.202512.5.2025

Arttu Vuorio

Kirjoittaja on toimitusharjoittelija Oulun ylioppilaslehdellä. Kirjottamisen lisäksi hän opiskelee tieteiden ja aatteiden historiaa ja musisoi minkä ehtii.

Lue lisää:

Common ground: Student of the Year Veronica Vanhanen is known for bringing people together

At its best, an active student organization can be one of the most important mainstays for a student during their studies, says Student of the Year 2024, Veronica Vanhanen.

Ihmiset In English

TEKSTI Sanna Niemi

KUVAT Tuulia Salokannel

At the Oulu University Gala, the Student of the Year was named for the 12th time on November 8th. The award was given to Veronica Vanhanen, a fifth-year student of Industrial Engineering and Management.

“I was completely surprised! But it feels good to be rewarded,” Vanhanen comments after being named.

Oulu native Veronica Vanhanen has been selected as Student of the Year after meeting multiple of the selection criteria. She has actively contributed to building a sense of community within her subject society and as a tutor. Rauhala-klubi, the alumni club for former Student Union actives, which nominated Vanhanen for the Student of the Year title, cites her active role in mentoring both first-year students and master’s level students, as well as her efforts to inspire other students to participate in subject society events and take on leadership roles within the society.

Rauhala-klubi believes that in the post-pandemic years, low-threshold activities that bring students together are invaluable in fostering a sense of unity within the university community. The University of Oulu has been fortunate to have students like Vanhanen, who enable enjoyable activities and encourage others to join.

“Veronica genuinely cares about the well-being of her student guild and motivates both new and senior students to participate in events. She is one of the most prominent figures from her year in the university community. Vanhanen has progressed with her studies and has maintained good grades. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Technology last year,” says Rauhala-klubi. Based on these merits, Rauhala-klubi nominated Veronica Vanhanen as Student of the Year. The awardee is selected by the University of Oulu Association based on the nomination of the Rauhala-klubi.

Student life

Vanhanen chose to study industrial engineering and management in her hometown for two reasons. Her high school guidance counselor recommended the field, and she was already interested in technology, human behavior and sustainable business. Additionally, she had her loved ones and a job in Oulu. On top of that, the great stories about student life in Oulu convinced her that she didn’t need to leave her hometown to continue her studies.

During her freshman year, Vanhanen was interested in guild activities and wanted to be involved. During that time, she became the guild room manager, partly by chance and partly due to persistent persuasion. Her responsibilities included ensuring that there were enough coffee and treats for the students.

After her freshman year, Vanhanen took a break from her role, spending that year actively attending events as a member of the guild. During this time, her interest in the guild’s board activities grew, and she began thinking about ways to improve the guild’s activities and develop the academic experience from a student perspective.

“I believe that a subject society is one of the most important pillars supporting students during their studies. It connects students in the field and, at its best, promotes their well-being,” Vanhanen shares.

After her year off, Vanhanen returned to the guild activities as an academic affairs representative, serving as a liaison between students and faculty.

Active life outside of studies

Since 2011, the Student of the Year award recipient is expected to not only make good academic progress, but also actively contribute to the university community. The Student of the Year motivates, inspires and encourages others with their own actions.

During her studies, Vanhanen was also involved in organizing sports nights at Toppila Reenis. She also helped organize after work events at Teerenpeli. These events were popular during the time when gatherings were restricted by COVID guidelines. Social events that promoted community spirit were also organized to play badminton, tennis and board games, as well as communal movie nights.

“I think that it’s important for the student community to offer diverse activities, so that everyone could have an opportunity to participate in activities that interest them. Be that ice hockey games at Niittyaro or badminton games at Nallisport or student events in general, such a sittnings, orienteering events and rowing competitions,” Vanhanen says.

Vanhanen’s motivation to bring people together stems from her personal positive experiences of how older students welcomed her and her fellow classmates, inviting them to participate in shared events. There was a warm and inclusive atmosphere among her peers.

These events left her with wonderful memories and stories to tell. One amusing incident happened when a casual suggestion at a student event led to the group to spontaneously book tickets for a trip to Italy.

“As part of my New Year’s resolution, I said ‘yes’ instead of ‘no’. We bought the tickets, and the next day, I already regretted my decision because I’m not usually spontaneous with things like this”, Vanhanen says.

“But on the day of departure, as soon as the train started moving, all my worries disappeared, and it turned out to be one of the most fun trips I’ve ever had”, she continues and adds:

“There were students from three different year groups on the trip, and I didn’t even know all my travel companions that well. Now, we’re really great friends.”

From Oulu to Helsinki

This summer, Veronica Vanhanen moved to Helsinki to complete her master’s thesis in industrial engineering and work in her field. She also began business studies at Aalto University. When applying to study industrial engineering, she had long considered business studies as an alternative.

“I spent a long time deciding between these fields, and now I get to pursue both!”

After working for a while, Vanhanen’s interest in economic phenomena grew, and she wanted to deepen her understanding of numbers and strategic work. A strategy course during her industrial engineering studies cemented her decision to enter the business field.

“From my understanding, combining engineering and business studies has become more common in general. I’m naturally curious and have always been eager to learn new things and develop myself, so pursuing further studies felt natural. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll end up studying psychology too, as I’m interested in that as well.”

Her study spot at Aalto was secured through her GPA, an application letter, and an interview.

During her free time, Vanhanen remains active in bringing people together. She spends time with friends going jogging and working out. She has competed in figure skating at the national level, and her future dreams include coaching figure skating. However, balancing studies, work and stable daily life requires planning.

“The two cornerstones for managing all of this are balance and prioritization. Prioritization is essential for time management, as I realize that I can’t give 100% to everything, or there just wouldn’t be enough hours in the day. By balance, I mean life management and finding a counterweight to responsibilities – in my case, a healthy mix of exercise, social activities, and personal time. The importance of these has really become clear in recent years.”

An active guild is an asset

Vanhanen occasionally visits Oulu to catch up with both old and new guild members. Compared to other engineering guilds, the industrial guild is small, with only 45 bachelor’s students and around 20 master’s students admitted each year. Vanhanen thinks that the small size of the guild has made it easy to get to know everyone, which has been a real asset for the students.

As for the future, Vanhanen isn’t planning to stress. She believes that things tend to work out and describes her outlook on the future as “go with the flow”, reflecting the approach of this year’s Student of the Year. In the near future, her goal is to work for a company with aligned values, where she can make most of her skills.

“Initially, I plan to focus on building and developing my career, and much later on, I’ll see if I’m interested in pursuing a PhD, for example. But for now, I feel like I’ve had my fill of studying, and my focus is set on entering the workforce, even though student life is such a great time.”

VERONICA VANHANEN

She was named as the Student of the Year on November 8th 2024.
Age 25 years old
Lives in Helsinki with her boyfriend
A fifth-year industrial engineering student with a Bachelor of Science in Technology, studying business at Aalto University.
Hobbies include jogging, the gym and figure skating.
Has competed in figure skating on Finnish national level, dreams of coaching figure skating.

Translation by Anna Tiira.

Julkaistu 19.11.202419.11.2024

Sanna Niemi

Olen muutaman mutkan kautta Ouluun päätynyt journalismin opiskelija. Kahvilat, kulttuuri, ihmiset, erilaiset urheilulajit sekä reissut iskee ja inspiroi tällä hetkellä.

Lue lisää:

“An ordinary place of work for ordinary people.” – Kati Laitinen was supposed to become a teacher, but a career in the EU took her in another direction

Kati Laitinen, originally from Haukipudas, decided to embark on a career in the EU despite the fact that she enjoyed her job as a teacher. Initially, the plan was to move abroad for a few years, but she ended up staying in Luxembourg for 20 years. Now, Laitinen is continuing her EU career in Finland.

Ihmiset In English

TEKSTI Eetu Leinonen

KUVAT Miikka Niemelä

Kati Laitinen studied English philology at the University of Oulu, intending to become a language teacher. But when Finland joined the European Union, she ended up on a long career track in the EU. Today, she works as the head of communications of the European Commission Representation in Finland.

Kati’s student years were shadowed by the high interest rates caused by the economic recession of the 1990s. Despite this, Laitinen worked as a substitute teacher and remained confident in her job prospects. Her university years were enjoyable, and she has many fond memories of Oulu’s student culture, particularly Rauhala and karaoke nights in Reidar.

Laitinen recalls her university years to be the most stressful of her life – even more so than her years in the workforce. “That’s why I believe that students shouldn’t have to worry about making ends meet, because they’ve got enough stress as is.”

Laitinen finished her master’s thesis while simultaneously working in 1995. “I worked as a substitute teacher at Sotkamo Sports High School. I had nothing better to do than working and attending community college exercise classes, so I finished my thesis there.”

From a translator to a chief – and beyond

When Finland joined the European Union in 1995, job advertisements for positions in the EU started appearing in the papers. Laitinen noticed an ad for a translator position in Kaleva, and decided to join the competition.

“I always figured that I’d end up living abroad at some point. Granted, I thought it’d be somewhere in the United Kingdom, but once I saw the ad I figured that Brussels or Luxembourg could be worth the shot.”

To pursue a career in the EU, candidates have to go through competitions organized by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO). When Laitinen herself applied, the process was quite similar to what it is today: the first stage consisted of language proficiency tests, including reading comprehension tasks and questions testing EU knowledge. After that, the applicants completed translation tasks from two EU languages into their own native language. Finally, the most successful applicants were invited to an interview.

“The interview sure was something, considering I had no knowledge of any EU protocols. Eight interviewers sat in a row and started throwing curveballs at me. In a way, it was a really pleasant, relaxed situation, but I was interviewed in foreign languages and they went through all the languages I had listed myself proficient in. But I definitely don’t feel like it was an impossible experience to get through.”

Laitinen passed the competitions and was offered a career opportunity in the EU. She left her job as a teacher at the Patela secondary school and headed to Luxembourg. “I fell in love with the job and its community when I arrived in Luxembourg. There was a nice sense of community, the way people helped each other. We were sort of like pioneers as Finns in Luxembourg.”

After working as a translator for ten years, Laitinen moved into a managerial role despite never having thought about ending up in such a position.

In Luxembourg, she advanced to become the Head of the Finnish Translation Unit before being recruited for her current position as Head of Communications of the Commission Representation in Finland. She was hesitant at first, but after some consideration she felt that the change would be the right move.

During her career spanning over 20 years, Laitinen has witnessed great changes in the operations of the EU. There is less bureaucracy, and the commission has become a more modern employer. In addition to this, there is a great generational transition happening within the institutions of the EU. The first Finnish EU officials are now at a retirement age, and new Finns are desperately needed in the union.

“I feel like it’s my responsibility to ensure that the generational transition is smooth. Once that’s done, I’ll be the last of the original staff to depart and leave the work in the hands of the new team.”

EU careers need ordinary Finnish workers

Laitinen encourages anyone interested to apply for careers in the EU. She suggests that even those unfamiliar with the competitions should give them a try, if only for the experience. After all, academic grades don’t play a significant role in the selection process.

“We simply just look whether a person has completed a degree, even with mediocre grades, and has some work experience. Then we’ll have a conversation with the applicant during the interview.”

Laitinen is content with her career in the EU. The assignments are fascinating, there’s room for progress, and the union offers a decent salary. There’s also encouragement for employees to try out various jobs within the union.

It’s not impossible to get a job in the EU; Laitinen notes that she, too, was just a regular student. “Often, the media reports focus on creating this image of an application process filled with extremely difficult tests and the idea that an applicant must be some sort of exceptional individual. I’ve had what might seem like a remarkable career in the EU, but in reality it’s an ordinary place of work for ordinary people.”

KATI LAITINEN

Head of Communication and Outreach section of the Commission Representation in Finland
From Haukipudas
Lives in Viertola, Vantaa
Enjoys dancing and nature during her free time

Translation by Anna Tiira.

INFORMATION ABOUT CAREERS IN THE EU:

EU Careers
Euroopean Commission’s Lähde EU-uralle! page (in Finnish)
Eurooppalainen Suomi ry (in Finnish)
Facebook group EU-career network in Finland

Julkaistu 1.10.20241.10.2024

Eetu Leinonen

Kirjoittaja on tilastotieteilijä ja suomen kielen opiskelija, joka on vahingossa onnistunut kaveriporukoissa brändäämään itsensä keltaisella tuulitakillaan.

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Taking charge of student life with the help of artists

The academic year of 2024-25 is starting, and students are rolling onto campuses. Among them are lots of freshmen, to whom student life is new and exciting. How should one take care of their wellbeing in the midst of academic life? Oulu Student Magazine sought tips from an unexpected source.

In English Kulttuuri Opiskelu

TEKSTI Miia Torro

KUVAT Miia Torro

The Tampere-based band Huora and Oulu’s very own Blind Channel have had a busy year: both bands released new albums in March that sent them on the road for respective tours.

Huora has been touring extensively around Finland, while Blind Channel has performed not only in Europe and the United States, but also in Tokyo, Japan – without forgetting their home country, of course.

Qstock brought the bands to Oulu, and members from both bands took a moment to sit down and have a chat with the Oulu Student Magazine.

Tip: Try to prepare for stressful times

What do a touring artist and a student have in common? Stress, pressure and tightly scheduled lives, for starters. But when we ask the members of Huora and Blind Channel how they manage such things, we get a hearty burst of laughter in response.

“It’s definitely been a learning curve for me, since I only entered the music industry in my thirties,” Huora’s singer Anni Lötjönen, who just turned 41, notes.

“I’ve learned it all the hard way, by just doing things wrong first and figuring it out from there.”

Blind Channel’s Aleksi Kaunisvesi, responsible for the band’s samples and percussion, shares the same outlook.

“You just have to learn by trial and error when it comes to figuring out when it’s better to take it easy and when it’s okay to stay up late.”

One lesson learned has been that it’s easier to manage stressful times when you have a plan for them and therefore can prepare yourself.

“Knowing that stress and strain come and go in seasons has been an important lesson. The most important thing is to prioritize downtime in order to bounce back from it all,” Blind Channel’s bassist Olli Matela says.

*Blind Channel’s Aleksi Kaunisvesi (left) and Olli Matela.*

Tip: Know yourself and your limits

Lötjönen says that a music career has forced her to get to know herself and where her limitations lie. The process is never-ending, because your energy levels and stamina undergo changes as you age. Such a phenomenon can be evident during one’s student years as well: a freshman can withstand the whirlwind of student life better than a person who’s further into their studies.

Huora’s drummer Saku Sahlstedt emphasizes the importance of introspection in order to find personal limitations when it comes to one’s ability to withstand stress. In addition to that, he mentions the importance of speaking out – even about negative feelings.

“Being vocal about your feelings with others is a good way of handling stress and pressure. If you keep mulling in your emotions alone, it’ll eat you alive. It’s vital to let it all out,” Sahlstedt says.

Course deadlines and exams can elevate stress levels, but talking about it can be helpful. Exercise is another way to let out some steam while taking care of your wellbeing. Lötjönen mentions cross-country skiing as one of the best ways to take care of your body and mind; she used to ski a lot last winter while preparing for the upcoming tours.

Blind Channel’s duo also consider exercise to be an important part of their lives. Kaunisvesi says that he exercises quite a lot, and Matela enjoys getting his body moving as well. The bassist’s favorite places in Oulu are by the water: there are tons of hiking routes by rivers and the sea. Additionally, Oulu has plenty of ski tracks, where it’s easy to clear one’s head.

Tip: Everyone’s study journey is different

There is a diverse lot of students on campuses, and each one of them has their own, unique background. The same goes for the artists we’re interviewing. Lötjönen from Huora studied to be a practical nurse after secondary school, while Sahlstedt studied industrial engineering and production. Lötjönen assures that she has always been a good student and focused in her studies – she even received a scholarship from her practical nursing studies.

“I was the complete opposite of that. I was always partying, and while my friends went on to graduate in four years, I had to stay behind for a fifth. That’s when I decided that it was time for me to graduate,” Sahlstedt recalls.

*Huora’s Saku Sahlstedt (left) and Anni Lötjönen.*

Lötjönen laments how studying has been made more difficult: it’s expensive and straining. Many students know this as well, as they have to work alongside their studies to make ends meet, which can make their years of studying that much more straining. Lötjönen would study more if it was emotionally and financially less draining.

“But I do enjoy studying, it just makes sense to me,” she adds with a laugh.

Matela from Blind Channel describes himself to be a picky student, one that was interested in some topics while having no fascination with others. After graduating from the Madetoja Music Upper Secondary School, he continued his studies at the Oulu Conservatoire, which he describes as a “little stress school” that taught him a lot.

In contrast, Kaunisvesi dropped out of upper secondary school to go study music production in Amsterdam. He studied abroad with an “all-or-nothing” mentality.

“I had to give it everything I had, because I had moved abroad and turned my life upside down to get a degree. I was fully immersed in my studies around the clock,” Kaunisvesi recalls.

Tip: Having plans is a good plan

Members from both Huora and Blind Channel have many years of experience in the music industry. When they are asked to share some words of wisdom to students, the first thing they all agree on is the importance of sleep. On tour, sleep can become a secondary priority – just like students with lectures, events, possible jobs and other hobbies filling up their calendars.

“It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep can do for you,” Kaunisvesi remarks.

Lötjönen considers sleep to be the basis for everything else in life. Additionally, it’s beneficial to be around people that give you strength to go on. Matela mentions the importance of planning and setting schedules, even in the long run.

Sahlstedt agrees. He urges students to consider their priorities. Student life often revolves around various events and parties, but it’s also important to consider whether it’s beneficial to go out during the weekend if there’s going to be an exam the following Monday.

“I know it’s hard. Though I didn’t exactly follow my own advice when I was younger, I’d still advise students to consider the benefits of short term “sacrifices” in the long run,” the drummer notes.

“It’s surprisingly easy once you stop taking everything too seriously,” Kaunisvesi concludes.

Translation by Anna Tiira.

Julkaistu 26.9.202426.9.2024

Miia Torro

Kirjoittaja on Oulun ylioppilaslehden toimitusharjoittelija. Tiedeviestinnän opiskelija, joka erästä kotimaista artistia siteeraten on aikuinen, mutta omalla tyylillä.

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A thriving underground rave scene lives in Oulu

Raves are in their golden age. Electronic dance music is taking center stage, and parties are being thrown in restaurants and large warehouses. But what lurks underneath the surface? Are there depraved bacchanals happening within the shadows of Oulu’s forests and run-down warehouses?

Ilmiöt In English Kulttuuri

TEKSTI Pete Huttunen

KUVAT Mari Kivioja

Three DJs and party organizers shed some light on Oulu’s underground (ug) scene. The light remains dim, because underground thrives in darkness. But we do catch some glimpses through the veil of secrecy.

Rene Tauriainen is a pioneer of rave culture in Oulu. Juhani Oivo has been throwing various types of parties for 20 years, and Vilma Kallunki is a prominent figure of the younger rave generation.

At raves, DJs and live performers play electronic dance music for a dancing crowd. The music is unified by a varying, aggressive bass and a quick tempo that varies in different styles.

Rave culture was born in the US in the mid-1980s and spread fast to Europe, especially England. The first rave party in Oulu was thrown at the beginning of the 1990s.

Ug, aka underground is something alternative, dubious and non-commercial – perhaps even forbidden and illegal. Some call it a subculture, but the term “ug” has cemented itself in the culture. Something is happening underground or atleast beneath the surface – something secret, perhaps even dangerous.

Underground eludes being defined, because it is constantly evolving. Commercial operators seek the underground for influences, and things are moving towards a more mainstream direction.

Rene Tauriainen ponders on the concept of underground. “Ug strays away from mainstream, but nowadays it can also be commercialized. Commercial night clubs like 45 Special play ug music.”

“Ug parties are held in places other than restaurants, bars or clubs, but the culture is also showcased in those places. The parties are organized for a small, knowledgeable crowd, and they usually require an invitation,” Vilma Kallunki says.

The allure of underground parties is based not only on secrecy and a sense of danger, but also the sense of freedom. The music can be more hardcore, experimental or deeper than in restaurants; there is no last call, and there is less harassment and bad behavior than in restaurants. The information about the parties spreads through the grapevine, these days usually in private chat groups online.

Early beats at warehouse parties

When the first rave parties in Oulu were thrown in the early 90s, Rene Tauriainen was in the middle of it. He was one of the establishers of Oulun Warehouse and H.A.N.D (Have A Nice Day) associations, which operated in secret.. Oulun Warehouse threw parties in empty warehouses and other abandoned spaces, like a closed-down bowling alley.

The only way you could get in was by knowing the right people, and the raves were announced at the last minute through a secret phone line. The Warehouse parties started after midnight and ended sometime in the morning – whenever the organizers so desired.

The inspiration for organizing the parties was “acid house” music that you couldn’t play during DJ sets at restaurants. Disco music and culture had already evolved in England and the US.

“My friends had traveled there, and we read articles in online magazines. The allure was about unconventionality and a sense of danger. Our group of congenial friends decided to start throwing parties in Oulu.”

“Warehouse parties had an estimated 100-150 participants, but the vibe felt more like 15 000. The venues were pitch dark, full of smoke and a lot of strobe lights.”

Information about the illegal parties reached the ears of law enforcement, and the police even ended shutting down one party.

“There were members of the Screaming Men’s Choir present, and the guys performed the Finnish national anthem as the police were clearing out the place,” Tauriainen reminisces amusedly.

The operations of Warehouse Ry ended in the late 90s. There was a rising moral panic spreading through Europe concerning illegal parties where criminals were rumored to be doing drugs. In many countries law enforcement cracked down heavily on the parties. Compared to that, the police in Oulu took a more lenient approach.

“We were throwing a party and happened to be standing outside with the other organizers. The chief of police arrived at the scene and told us “listen guys, I know you’re having a party downstairs and I’ll look the other way this one time, but the next time there will be consequences. Could you please make your operations more official?””

“After that we had to rethink our approach; after all, organizing those parties was really tough in hindsight,” Taurianen sums it up.

New beats emerge from silence

Rave culture has gone through a resurrection in the past few years. People are talking about a renaissance and a third wave: the second wave was EDM and eurodance, which are not often associated with credible subculture.

In the parties, new artists and experiences are thriving. During the summer, people party in the forests and on the beaches of Helsinki almost every weekend. Clubs and large venues host more commercial parties, and raves have become a largely accepted part of mainstream culture.

Vilma Kallunki is known as DJ Otilia, and she’s thrown gigs both in Finland and abroad. Kallunki is a part of the multi-artistic collective Cultish, which organizes parties and various events that combine video art, installations and electronic music.

Kallunki notes that nowadays there are a lot of people actively organizing various interesting events. After covid, many new people have entered the scene; party culture lives and is thriving.

Rene Tauriainen agrees.

“At one point it felt like there was nothing worthwhile going on, but what I’ve seen lately is looking good again.”

*Rene Tauriainen (left), Vilma Kallunki, and Juhani Oivo know the party scene in Oulu. They’ve gained experience over several decades.*

Juhani Oivo has worked as a DJ and an event organizer in the electronic music scene for over 20 years. Oivo has organized hundreds of events and spins records under the names of DJ Oivo, DJ J Honey and DJ Jay Day. Nowadays he organizes events like Elektorni during the summer at Tähtitorni in Oulu’s Linnansaari and during the winter at 45 Special.

From an outsider’s perspective, it seems like the electronic music scene in Oulu is personified in Oivo. However, he does not endorse this idea, even though Tauriainen believes that at one point, Oivo was the only active organizer in the area.

“I fully disagree. All of this is by no means all on my shoulders. Sure, at one point there were less events happening in Oulu, but nowadays there are lots of active organizers.”

“It was a bit quieter from 2000-2015, and many people didn’t attend the parties. But even during that time, there was fluctuation. The location of Oulu also plays a key role in all of it: the city is not a huge metropolis, and young people tend to move south.”

Oulu has style

New electronic music collectives have been established all over Finland.

Oivo notes that the rise in popularity has been evident in Oulu during the past 5-10 years as well. Vilma Kallunki agrees.

“We’ve been organizing club events with Cultish for four years now, and even during that time the scene has evolved a lot,” Kallunki amplifies. Kallunki says that there has been demand for both open and underground events organized by Cultish: the combination of music and visuals clearly appeals to their audience. Events organized by Cultish carry a recognizable visual style. The music is rooted in techno, but varies according to the venue and the theme of the party.

The scene is evolving in many ways in various different directions, and the artists draw influences from other subcultures without prejudice. The style of rave music varies from city to city: Oivo mentions that traditionally a lot of music from the UK has been played in Oulu. Many DJs have embraced the British sound, and Oivo’s club night, Children of Boom, featured UK music heavily.

“There’s a certain continuity here; it’s one of the defining characteristics of the Oulu sound. Then again, the UK sound is currently gaining a lot of traction across other parts of Europe,” he adds. “Back in the 90s, the music was predominantly European, especially British,” Tauriainen notes.

Where’s the party?

Where and what kind of underground parties are organized in Oulu? The organizers exchange long looks, and there is a long silence. Finally, Tauriainen responds: “Let’s just say that they exist.”

They wouldn’t be underground raves if they were public. The venues and locations remain secret. They do, however, share that several open-air parties are held in the forests around Oulu during the summer.

The organizers quickly and smoothly shift the topic to more public events. Kallunki tells that public parties are held at Nelivitonen (45 Special) and Kulttuurilaboratorio. He recalls a particularly memorable event: the pride-themed party thrown by Cultish a few years back.

Oivo says that it’s really nice to play at Elektorni, and it’s an open-air party since it’s not indoors but under the starry sky. Tauriainen also remembers that the first Time Tunnel at Valvesali was an extremely impressive experience.

There’s no point in asking more about the locations or nature of underground parties. They do happen, though.

Wild partying?

The party organizers feel most at home at small, underground parties, but huge festivals with tens of thousands people have their moments, as well. Tauriainen says that squat parties in abandoned houses in London are wild. “Once you leave, you can definitely say that you’ve experienced something.”

“I’ve been to some parties in London that, whew, I wouldn’t even talk about them out loud. At squat parties, homeless people sleep in the corners, junkies shoot up, and there’s insane drum’n’bass blasting. People party like crazy, sometimes until who knows when,” Tauriainen says, adding that the parties are not specifically drug-fueled parties, but it is one way to party.

Squat parties in London are a far cry from the reality of a small, northern city; but since the parties are secret, there are a lot of rumors circulating about them – some of which are not entirely true.

The organizers unanimously agree that drugs always come up in the conversations, even though in their experience people are more inebriated in bars. They all emphasize that people come to raves for the music.

And while drugs, particularly MDMA (aka ecstasy) are a part of rave culture and visible in the imagery and in dilated pupils, it’s not a topic the organizers like to discuss. Drugs make for sensational headlines and are an enticing subject, which often leads to exaggerated focus on them in the media. Similarly, the essence of Finnish rock music isn’t defined by flat beer.

“I want to keep drugs separate from the music and the events. It’s none of my business if someone uses before coming to a party. It’s a whole different matter if it turns into problematic use – that’s something that needs to be addressed,” Tauriainen emphasizes.

Vilma Kallunki emphasizes the importance of the principles of a safe space. Raves have unwritten rules and a code of conduct that people follow. Everyone is welcomed as they are. It’s forbidden – or atleast impolite – to film the party-goers, and people treat each other with respect.

Kallunki says that the freedom to express oneself in a non-judgemental environment is remarkable. For her, clothing is an important form of self-expression. Fantasy costumes and jeans with a T-shirt are both equally welcome.

It’s also an advantage that all the participants are somewhat like-minded. When everyone has a sense of what they’re getting into, the risk of conflicts is smaller compared to in bars, for example.

Kallunki says that she’s experienced significantly less bad behavior and harassment at underground parties than in restaurants or public parties.

“Fortunately, nowadays there are written rules that are shared with party-goers in advance and are displayed at the venue. People need to commit to them if they want to attend the party. This way, we can address any issues that arise,” Kallunki notes.

I want to party too!

What should you do if you want to party at an exclusive event? The organizers of underground parties say that it’s relatively easy to gain access to ug parties in Oulu. A step in the right direction is to attend the public parties, such as Elektorni, where you can meet like-minded people.

“Like the saying goes, those who ask will not get lost. References are not necessary, but there needs to be a certain level of familiarity for you to receive an invitation,” Tauriainen explains.

“It’s good to know someone from the scene or to be aware of other parties. In Oulu, the scene is quite open. If you’re interested in the music scene, you’ll definitely find your way in,” Kallunki says.

Raves will take you on a journey

What inspires people to organize raves and gather together to dance till the early hours of the morning? Do the music, the community, the exclusivity, the mystery, drugs and aesthetics explain it all?

Underground parties are organized with a DIY mindset and money doesn’t play a significant role in the events. The organizers emphasize that for them, hosting parties is, and always has been, about the fun and love of music.

Or, it can also be about the fact that at their best, raves can be a mystic experience:

The movement to the repetitive rhythm is ceaseless. The music, lights and smoke hit your body and all your senses with tremendous force. You are the person or entity you want to be at that moment. You’re free.

The experience can be primitive, almost shamanistic; the soul momentarily transcends this world. And while the experience can be enhanced, you can also enter another dimension without the aid of any shamanic substances. For a brief moment everyone is alone, yet simultaneously connected to one another and the universe.

Translation by Anna Tiira.

Julkaistu 23.9.202423.9.2024

Pete Huttunen

Humanistiopiskelija ja ite tehty kulttuuritoimittaja. Harrastuksena pahennuksen herättäminen kaiken maailman kulttuuririennoissa. Juttuja olen tehnyt metallifestareista oopperaan. Tarinoiden toimivuutta testaan lukemalla niitä ääneen kissalle.