Oulu arkistot - Oulun ylioppilaslehti

International students don’t fear racist violence, but unemployment

Last June, two stabbings targeting people with immigrant backgrounds took place at the Valkea shopping center. However, international students living in Finland believe that there are much more terrifying things happening here.

Ilmiöt In English

TEKSTI Kirsi Uusitalo

KUVAT Essi Määttä

Last summer, there were stabbings in Oulu’s shopping center Valkea, targeting individuals with immigrant backgrounds. In one case, the perpetrator was a minor, while in another the perpetrator, Juhani Sebastian Lämsä, had previously been linked to a far-right organization. Lämsä had already been convicted for an attack in 2013.

The Jyväskylä library stabbing incident involved neo-Nazis attempting to disrupt a discussion event organized for the publication of the book ‘Äärioikeisto Suomessa’ (Far-Right in Finland), the event being attended by Left Alliance MP Li Andersson, one of the book’s authors. Lämsä has since denied having a racist motive or intending to kill children, though he was charged with two counts of attempted murder. In the other Valkea incident, according to the police investigation, the attacker had a racist motive when they attacked an individual of Asian descent and stabbed them in the shopping center.

There have been various speculated reasons for the violent acts, such as pointing to the rhetoric and actions of the Finns Party members in the government, who have been accused of fueling anti-immigrant sentiments. When racist speech is tolerated at the highest levels of society, it creates an atmosphere where violence becomes a conceivable solution to resolving tensions between different groups of people.

In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat published on June 23rd, terrorism researcher Leena Malkki noted that discussions and subcultures that tolerate violence have increased in Finland. Such discussions and subcultures often involved the phenomenon of “othering” anyone outside of the group. According to Malkki, violent ideologies have received indirect endorsement from influential figures.

The history and recent past of the Finns Party has been filled with racist and violent online writings and speeches targeting foreigners. MP Mauri Peltokangas has repeatedly referred to immigrants as “goatherds”. The current Minister of Finance, Riikka Purra, has not apologized for the things she wrote in Jussi Halla-Aho’s Scripta blog: after and incident on a train involving young people of immigrant background, Purra wrote in Scripta that “if I were given a gun, there would be bodies even on the commuter train, you see.” These writings were posted in Scripta’s guestbook in September 2008, around the time of the Kauhajoki school shooting.

How does the current political climate affect exchange students and international students studying in Finland? Are they scared for their own safety and have they encountered racism?

Multiple contributing factors

Ray, who is writing his dissertation at the University of Oulu, says that the events at Valkea have impacted both him and his international circle of friends. One of Ray’s friends, who works as a cleaner, was on duty when the blood had to be cleaned from the shopping center’s floors. The incident was traumatic, though some time has passed since June. The last time Rays saw his friend, they seemed to have recovered from the traumatic moment. Ray adds that he no longer goes into the city center alone; a friend always accompanies him. He also no longer visits Valkea.

Ray has been reflecting on the reasons behind the events at Valkea, recognizing multiple contributing factors. He calls for both parental and school responsibility, noting that the perpetrator in one of the stabbings was a 15-year-old minor. Ray does not blame the school for not identifying potential problematic behavior, but is more concerned about what is being taught in schools. Do students receive resources to engage with people from different cultures? Ray also sees the current political climate in Finland as partly responsible for the events. With their rhetoric and actions, the political elite can either narrow or widen the divide between people of different backgrounds in Finland.

Ray was surprised that the stabbings took place in Oulu out of all places. He would have expected incidents like this to happen in southern cities, where there are more immigrants. There are very few foreigners in Oulu, so there are less conflicts between different groups of people.

In an article published by Yle on June 26th, Oulu residents with immigrant backgrounds noted that the amount of racism has been increasing in Oulu for quite some time now, whereas other immigrants note in that same article that they feel safe in Oulu. In the article, researcher Elina Tolonen mentions that a series of sexual offenses that surfaced in Oulu in 2018-2019, leading to the conviction of 22 men with immigrant backgrounds, may have influenced the opinions of individuals in Oulu who were already opposed to foreigners.

Ray mentions that he has not personally experienced racism while living in Finland. This experience may partly be influenced by the environments he spends time while in Oulu, and, on the other hand, by the fact that he is not of African descent, which often increases the risk of facing slurs or violence. Ray’s life has, of course, largely revolved around the university in recent years.

The University of Oulu’s website states that the university strives to promote equality and adhere to its equality and non-discrimination plan in all its activities. The University of Oulu aims for every member of the community to feel welcome and equal within the community. According to the equality and non-discrimination plan, equal treatment and inclusion apply to everyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnic or national origin, citizenship, language, religion, beliefs, opinions, health status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other distinguishing personal factor.

But are these just empty words with nothing real to back them up? Ray feels like he has been welcomed as a member of the university community and has not experienced prejudice. Teaching in English has been largely available, and as dictated by the equality plan, he has received excellent guidance services for both his master’s and doctoral studies.

The equality plan states that the availability of guidance services enables student participation and equality. Ray has struggled with self-confidence, but thanks to the professor supervising his theses, he found the courage to start writing his dissertation. The professor has recommended suitable books and courses and provided Ray with support on his learning journey. At the end of his master’s studies, Ray secured a job as a research assistant, which he says opened the door to pursuing his PhD.

Internationality is a familiar thing in the university

The needs of international students are largely the same as those students born in Finland: guidance with their studies and working life services are services needed by all students. It is crucial that they are available in multiple languages and that the university fosters an atmosphere that’s accepting and understanding of diversity. Ray mentions that initially he had no knowledge of how to write a resume, but the working life services at the university have provided him with useful advice.

Ray can’t think of any suggestion for improvement regarding the support for international students at the University of Oulu. Everything seems to be running smoothly. According to a feedback survey conducted in 2023, International Student Barometer, an astonishing 100% of international students noted that they feel safe on the Oulu campus and are satisfied with the quality of teaching.

Prejudice perceived by first-year students has decreased from what it was in 2022. Seven percent have experienced harassment based on their nationality as international students. Despite the rarity of such harassment, it is, of course, essential to continue working towards completely eliminating discrimination.

The flattering numbers of the feedback survey are surely influenced by the university’s familiarity with internationalization; in its multiculturalism, it differs from the general atmosphere in Oulu, which remains fairly monocultural. The surrounding community does not necessarily share the values that are valued on campus. That’s why violence against foreigners can come as a shock, if one is used to mostly mingling in academic circles. The aforementioned applies largely to all universities and the cities where universities are located. Universities are often the melting pots of various cultures, when the surrounding communities are just learning to respect other cultures.

Perhaps the stabbings in Valkea could have happened anywhere in Finland. The city of Oulu doesn’t necessarily have a racism problem; rather, the issue lies all across Finland, where the current political leadership is allowing the division of people as desirable or undesirable, thus widening the gap between people from different backgrounds.

Racist rhetoric and policy decisions by our political leadership – such as the three-month employment requirement for foreign workers – fall on fertile ground in Finland, which is, according to studies, one of the most racist countries in Europe. For instance, a 2023 study by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights placed Finland among the top countries for racism experienced by people of African descent in Europe.

Universities tend to be more liberal in spirit than the surrounding society, thanks to their international atmosphere. At the University of Oulu, people from nearly 100 nationalities study and work. According to its website, the University of Oulu is one of the most internationally diverse institutions in the Arctic Region and Northern Europe, with a strong focus on internationalization.

The website also states that members of the university community have the opportunity to partake in international activities, develop intercultural skills, build global networks and learn about different countries. To be regarded as a respectable international partner, the University of Oulu must, of course, work to ensure that any suspicions of racism do not hinder its goals.

The Finnish job market has been divided

To cite the American philosopher Martha Nussbaum, higher education institutions have been, since the ancient times, served as places for nurturing liberal citizens. According to Nussbaum, universities promote global citizenship, rooted in the discretion that education brings, enabling individuals to see themselves in others and to critically examine their own prejudices.

Equality plans, equality committees and working groups responsible for organizing equality efforts, as well as harassment contact persons within student organizations, all represent the university’s goals for creating an inclusive study and work environment. The University of Oulu’s equality plan states it is the responsibility of every community member to promote equality. Ray’s experiences in Finnish society may change when he decides to apply for jobs as a civil engineer. Currently, Ray is working on his doctoral dissertation with three years of funding granted by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Quivine Ndomo states in their dissertation, The Working Underclass: Highly educated migrants on the fringes of the Finnish labour market, that even an education received in Finland doesn’t guarantee a job in many cases, since the Finnish job market has been divided into jobs for native Finns and jobs for foreigners. Highly educated immigrants often work in the lowest-paid jobs in the service sector or in fields like construction. Workers are categorized into high- and low-paying jobs based on skin color and ethnicity.

According to background documents from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment’s Unit for Immigration and Integration, dated May 8, 2023, half of the foreign students graduating from Finnish universities are employed in the Finnish labor market within a year of graduation. Internationally, this figure is high, but it has a downside: many do not find work that matches their qualifications and instead, in Ray’s words, end up in “odd jobs”.

The background paper notes that Finnish workplaces have limited capacity to hire immigrants. Employment prospects are also hindered by the lack of social interaction between international students and native Finns, who often remain in separate circles.

Proficiency in the Finnish language is important in the job market, as are connections, which means more work is needed for successful integration. Universities have succeeded in attracting international students through English-language programs, but this comes with a risk: without the need to study Finnish, students may face challenges when seeking employment later.

The three-month rule represents “capitalist exploitation”

The Valkea stabbings have led Ray to adjust his behavior: he avoids the Valkea shopping center and prefers not to walk around the city alone. Yet, when he speaks, other issues are emphasized over the fear of potentially becoming a victim of racist violence in Finland. Ray speaks more about his fears for the future. His funding from the Ministry of Education will end in 2027, and beyond that, everything is uncertain.

It’s possible Ray might not find work that matches his qualifications, facing the same fate as many other immigrants – ending up in odd jobs as a cleaner or food courier. In that case, Ray would most likely just leave the country. He notes that many of his friends are in a similar bind: there are low-paying jobs or unemployment in Finland, but returning home is not an option, as their home countries remain unsafe.

Benjamin, a student at the University of Tampere, has a chilling view of Finland’s right-wing government policies concerning foreigners. The proposed three-month unemployment rule means that workers on employment-based residence permits in Finland must leave the country if they dono not find new employment within three months of their previous job ending.

Benjamin believes that beyond racist motivations, the three-month rule represents capitalist exploitation. Foreigners are pressured to accept any job to avoid being sent out of the country. In this difficult position, they are more likely to agree to wage suppression and poor working conditions, which ultimately benefits capitalist interests.

Benjamin has an employment-based residence permit, and he has applied for Finnish citizenship. Decisions made by the right-wing government are making the lives of foreigners more challenging, and they terrify him so much that after becoming unemployed, he accepted a position at the university – despite the fact that companies pay twice as much in salary. Benjamin, however, couldn’t risk being unemployed for that long, so he chose the university. He has a genuine fear of being forced out of the country and checks the status of his citizenship application daily.

What has alarmed Benjamin is the speed with which decisions undermining the living conditions of foreigners in Finland have been enacted or advanced through legislative bodies. Although he has lived in Finland for six years and thus is not affected by the three- month unemployment rule, his concerns still persist. In an interview with Ilta-Sanomat (August 28th), Minister of Employment Arto Satonen stated that the three-month rule applies to foreigners who have resided in Finland for less than two years on an employment-based residence permit. But who knows what further decision the current government might make?

The social contract has been broken

Benjamin is not only terrified, but he feels like he’s been betrayed. He’s from a country where democracy is on rocky foundations. His fellow citizens used to say that in Europe, democracy works, that they should look up to Europe. When Benjamin started his studies, Finland had a socialist democratic government and young women were in positions of power. It gained international recognition. Benjamin notes that when things were good, he didn’t really pay attention to politics. Now it’s different, when it’s his own life on the line.

After arriving in Finland, Benjamin has lived according to all rules, paid his taxes and has remained employed. He has many years of experience in the Finnish job market. He’s even prepared to perform military service once he gets his citizenship. However, society has changed completely significantly from what it was when Benjamin arrived in Finland.

The stabbings in Valkea do not scare him; like Ray, he is more concerned that the hopes he invested in his future and the social contract he believed he was entering when he came to Finland may no longer hold under the current government, where the Finns Party seems to be setting the tone. When asked why the stabbings involving immigrants happened specifically in Oulu, Benjamin explains that Tampere is more international and left-leaning than Oulu, so similar incidents would be more surprising in Tampere.

Benjamin feels like his law-abiding way of life in Finland currently means nothing. The social contract, he argues, has been broken, as living diligently doesn’t guarantee acceptance for a foreigner in Finland. In the social contract formulated by Jean Jacques Rousseau, citizens submit to the common good in exchange for the state maintaining order. Benjamin has never complained about Finland’s high tax rate. He has remained employed, planned to complete his military service – in short, he’s been a model member of society, ready to fulfill his civic duties without objection. However, he believes that the Finnish government has dissolved the social contract. With even native Finns struggling to find work and facing long periods of unemployment, how can immigrants be expected to secure jobs easily?

Benjamin is more concerned about the wielders of power than about the far-right extremist responsible for the Valkea stabbing. He worries that compliance with societal norms is no longer enough; certain people, based on their skin color, are relegated to capitalist exploitation.

Sociologist Daria Krivonos, in her 2023 article Racial Capitalism and the Production of Difference in Helsinki and Warsaw (Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies), argues that racializing processes divide people into workers, the unemployed, and “almost-workers” in ways that serve capitalism. Those who deviate from the norm of a white European are classified in these processes as labor that is unfit for white-collar or “normal” jobs. Consequently, these groups are exposed to capitalist exploitation and psychologically exhausting menial jobs, irregular employment and unpaid labor.

Benjamin mentions that six of his friends have considered moving away from Finland. Employment is hard to secure, even if the immigrant has a degree from a Finnish university. Benjamin notes that the reason for his friends’ unemployment is both the bad economic situation in Finland as well as the racist, capitalist wage-labor system. He adds that he might be fortunate, as he has previously managed to find employment without issue. Lately, though, he and his immigrant friends have faced harassment while riding trams in Tampere. He suspects alcohol abuse and unemployment are factors behind the harassment.

Mastering Finnish doesn’t always open the necessary doors for immigrants

Benjamin and Ray don’t really talk about whether they and their friends have experienced direct racism in Finland, but systematic racism – specifically the challenges immigrants face when seeking employment – makes Benjamin visibly upset. He says he could talk about the topic endlessly.

Employment opportunities are tied to language skills. While English-language education is a key advantage for Finland in attracting international future experts, it also creates a challenge: without the need to learn Finnish, there’s less opportunity to practice it.

A 2019 background paper from the Finnish National Agency for Education revealed only 43% of highly educated international students in Finland work in specialist positions. This may partly be due to high proficiency in Finnish often being required for these roles.

Moreover, in her dissertation, Quivine Ndomo argues that Finnish employers often use the Finnish language requirements as a barrier to exclude applicants with immigrant backgrounds from the job market. She points out that mastering Finnish doesn’t always open the necessary doors for immigrants, who often still end up in roles that don’t match their qualifications.

Listening to Ray and Benjamin’s stories, it’s clear that the threat of racist violence doesn’t kill a young person’s basic optimism. Far-right extremism remains a marginal phenomenon in Finland. Ray feels that Finns are generally kind people; he has friends and financial support for his PhD studies. His role as a research assistant was an important milestone on his path to financial independence and reinforced his sense of hope for establishing a position in the Finnish job market.

As dangerous as a death threat

As long as the threat of violence – prompting him to avoid certain places and walking alone – is balanced by numerous positive aspects, it’s possible to live with it, or even forget about it altogether. However, anti-immigrant actions by political leaders and hidden discrimination in the workforce present a real barrier to fulfilling his dreams. Racist and capitalist societal forces together can shatter people’s future plans and make their investments in those plans futile.

For international students, coming to Finland is a significant mental and financial investment, motivated by dreams of a better life. To secure a place to study in Finland, international students must prove they can afford life here. Ray shares that his parents funded his master’s studies. Ending in low-paying jobs after all that doesn’t benefit anyone – not the students or Finland.

Ray is aware of the “brain drain” of highly educated immigrants leaving Finland. For Benjamin, unemployment or poorly paid jobs that don’t match his qualifications are as dangerous as a death threat: it’s like the ones in positions of power, rather than attackers like the ones in the Valkea incidents, are now holding the knife, threatening all immigrants. People are forced to take any job or leave the country. As he puts it, “They are threatening my life.”

The names of the interviewees have been changed due to the sensitiveness of the issue.

Translation by Anna Tiira.

Julkaistu 28.11.202428.11.2024

Lue lisää:

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.

Lue lisää:

Common factor: Concern over environment

The Climate Café network is expanding to Oulu, as two residents of Oulu worried about climate change want to create a safe and open community for everyone. In the meetings, topics such as climate change as well as other environmental and preoccupying issues are discussed. The aim is to come up with local solutions to […]

In English Kulttuuri

TEKSTI Marjut Lauronen

KUVAT Tuuli Heikura

The Climate Café network is expanding to Oulu, as two residents of Oulu worried about climate change want to create a safe and open community for everyone. In the meetings, topics such as climate change as well as other environmental and preoccupying issues are discussed. The aim is to come up with local solutions to challenges posed by climate change from a northern perspective.

A relaxed hustle and bustle fills the Paljetti café at the Cultural Centre Valve on a Thursday evening in October. Oulu’s first Climate Café, which is part of the Climate Café movement, has gathered at the Paljetti café to talk about climate, environment, and sustainable development. Although the meeting is the first of its kind, nearly thirty persons interested in the subject have arrived there to chat about the topics.

As a phenomenon, the roots of the Climate Cafés are in 2015 in Scotland where a public lecture on climate change provoked discussion among the locals. People wanted to talk more about the topic and the idea of a monthly discussion group started forming.

Over time, the Climate Café community grew and new sub branches of it were formed all over Scotland and the world. The same goal connects all of the Climate Cafés that are part of the movement: to create safe spaces for conversations where everyone gets to chat and act on things that are dear to them.

Petr Stepanek, one of the organizers of Oulu’s Climate Café, also thinks that the people’s desire to talk about climate-related topics is strong, but finding a suitable environment for such discussions can be challenging.

“Climate change affects us all and it raises a lot of questions and worries. Many would like to talk about these things but they might not have gotten a chance to share their thoughts”, Stepanek notes. “Many also have the urge to influence and act on things but have no knowledge of how to do so.”

“Public discourse about climate change is also often very exaggerated”, mentions Veera Juntunen, one of the organizers. “Open and shared discussion could prove that this doesn’t have to be the case.”

Stepanek and Juntunen accidentally ended up talking with each other after one public lecture at the end of summer. During the summer, Stepanek had thought of organizing Climate Café activities at Oulu but he was faced with a language issue: he would need the help of someone fluent in Finnish because a shared language would help to handle things on a large enough scale and with the proper sensitivity.

When people are discussing difficult and worry-inducing topics, many find it is easier to talk about them in their native language. The threshold for participating in the Climate Café activities would be lower for many thanks to the use of two languages. Stepanek and Juntunen got on the same page very quickly and decided to bring Climate Café to Oulu.

Stepanek and Juntunen are both researchers at the University of Oulu. Stepanek works as a post-doctoral researcher of chemical physics in the NMR research unit and he also studies environmental engineering. Juntunen is working on a doctoral thesis about the production of solar hydrogen. Outside of work they are united by the worry about climate change and its impact on our environment which is why they are organizing a Climate Café in their freetime as a shared discussion space for the residents of Oulu.

“Above all we want to create communality, not an academic bubble. We are organizing the Climate Café as private persons, not in connection with the university”, Juntunen says.

The idea of the Climate Café is simple: those interested in the issue meet once a month over a cup of tea – or a cup of coffee, as we are in Finland – to chat about matters relating to climate change and other environmental challenges.

The communality cherished by the Climate Café concept is visible in the very first meeting as everyone gets to introduce themselves in turns. The participants come from different backgrounds but they all are brought together by the same thing: worry over the climate and our environment. Discussions are held both in Finnish and English in the meetings.

There is no specific, readily planned programme for future meetings as they are built around the wishes and needs of the participants. Besides discussion groups, the meetings can also include workshops or visiting speakers.

In Scotland, the local Climate Cafés have already been noticed by the decision-makers. In the beginning of October, in their meeting, the Scottish Parliament discussed the local effectiveness of the Climate Cafés as they managed to encourage local residents to save electricity by collaborating with the Heat energy guidance project.

The end result was impressive. The project reached over 700 households which means the amount of saved electricity was outstanding. Does the Climate Café of Oulu have similar goals?

Stepanek and Juntunen also hope that the ideas that develop in the Climate Café could be implemented in practice. “The ultimate idea of the Climate Café is to share thoughts and experiences”, Stepanek says.

“Oulu is a relatively large city and lots of professionals from different fields live here. We would like to have local experts with hands-on experience and insight on the topics at hand as our speakers.”

In fact, Stepanek and Juntunen want to highlight the northern outlook in the topics of the Climate Café. The Climate Café is meant to become a discussion space for the local community where ideas are expressed from the perspective of their own area, taking their needs into account. The goal is to find local solutions that mirror the experiences and wishes of the residents of Oulu.

When examining Oulu from the perspective of the northern climate, one of the changes caused by climate change is the increase in the rainfall in the future. Is the infrastructure of the city prepared for increasing rainfall? What’s the situation like outside of the city? Additionally, the issues with fast fashion and renewable energy provoke discussion also here in Finland. The organizers of the Climate Café are hoping to get experts to speak of these topics among other things, as well as of new topics that come up in the conversations.

When it comes to societal influencing and appealing to decision-makers, Stepanek and Juntunen emphasize that the Climate Café is politically unaffiliated. They want to maintain the meetings as spaces for discussion that are open for everyone. They don’t want to politicize the conversations that are had in the Climate Café but due to the nature of them, they might sometimes turn political. That is not the intention, however.

“The people coming to these meetings come here as professionals of their field, not as political figures. Apoliticism means the discussions remain open and welcoming for all participants”, says Stepanek.

You don’t have to be a professional of the field or know exactly what it is that you want to do to participate in the Climate Café. It’s also not mandatory to partake in the conversations: it’s enough that you are interested in the topic and want to listen to others’ experiences and ideas.

Stepanek and Juntunen encourage people to attend the meetings and just be themselves. Children are also welcome in the Climate Café. If you are unsure about participating, you can drop in without commitments and just feel out the atmosphere. To those who are thinking about what to bring up in the discussions of the Climate Café and to those who are thinking if they have anything to say, Stepanek and Juntunen say encouragingly:

“Come as you are”.

The Climate Café gathers together once a month on Thursdays. More specific dates and locations can be found on the Climate Cafe Oulu Facebook page and on Instagram @climatecafeoulu.

Julkaistu 20.11.202326.2.2024

Marjut Lauronen

Tiedeviestinnän opiskelija, jota kiinnostaa kaikki kummallinen. Toivoton iltavirkku, joka yrittää oppia löytämään juuri ne oikeat sanat.

Lue lisää:

OYY’s new community specialist Viljami Viinikka wants to unify the university community

Student Union of University of Oulu (OYY) selected Viljami Viinikka as their new community specialist. During his two-year long post Viinikka hopes to be a specialist for the entire university community. Viljami Viinikka, 25, started as OYY’s community specialist in the beginning of 2023. However, Viinikka is not a tenderfoot at the OYY office. He […]

Ihmiset In English

TEKSTI Tuuli Heikura

KUVAT Tuuli Heikura

Student Union of University of Oulu (OYY) selected Viljami Viinikka as their new community specialist. During his two-year long post Viinikka hopes to be a specialist for the entire university community.

Viljami Viinikka, 25, started as OYY’s community specialist in the beginning of 2023. However, Viinikka is not a tenderfoot at the OYY office. He acted as vice president in OYY’s board during 2022 and was in charge of the community sector. “Work environment and assignments were quite familiar already, which aided in orientation”, Viinikka mentions. “Last year as the previous community specialist Eetu Leinonen’s journeyman he accustomed me to many tasks, but still the transition gets confusing from time to time”, he adds.

Fresh specialist instantly got off the deep end of work when he was assigned two major events both taking place in the first month of his employment.

The Student Union educates its societies’ active members in Active Clubs February 1st and 2nd. Since the community specialist acts as a link between OYY and societies, organizing the Active Clubs is his responsibility.

The second event, Löyly, targets the other significant stakeholder group on community specialist’s job description – international students. Löyly is a working life event held 25th and 26th of January aimed primarily towards international degree students, but open for everyone. The aim of the event is to offer practical guidance and tips in seeking a job in the Oulu area, and to provide information about Finnish working life. Another aim is to bring together employers in Oulu and international degree students. The event is fully in English. The program consists of keynote-speeches, workshops, panel discussions and cv-photography. OYY organizes Löyly in collaboration with OSAKO.

Viinikka ended up as community specialist after a deliberation of his own strengths. “Reasons for applying were quite the same as why I ended up applying to study chemistry back in the day: I considered how I could help people and what were my personal strengths. Naturally, societies and advocacy work are close to my heart as well.”

Societies really are familiar to Viinikka. Since moving to Oulu from Lumijoki to study chemistry in the summer of 2017, Viinikka has been a familiar sight not only in his subject organizations’ board presidiums but also in recreational associations’ boards. “Recretional associations luckily have a good footing in Oulu University, you can really witness the communality spirit here.”

Easy to approach yet easily approaching

Viinikka portrays himself as a project-person who enjoys learning new skills. “Continuous development is fun and so are new skills”. When he’s not playing karelian gorodki (kyykkä), he might be doing crafts or exploring new recipes in the kitchen. He tells a story about a time he made appleless apple pie. Reportedly people eating it had a really hard time believing it really didn’t contain any apples, so much it tasted like a real apple pie. “Baking links up with my interest in chemistry”, he says.

Viinikka also plays the accordion, and sometimes visits to play for albums for various projects. “Recently, I was even asked to go sing for one!”, he laughs.

Community specialist meets various, colorful people in his line of duty. Viinikka hopes to be the whole university community’s community specialist. For student organizations, a community specialist is a pillar, someone to ask guidance from and seek positive reinforcement. “I’m here to tell that very few things are the end of the world”.

Community specialist’s job description is divided roughly into two sectors: societies and international affairs. Social work demands for an easy to approach -kind of person, and exactly that Viinikka hopes for himself to be. Not only wishes he to be easy to approach, but has already instigated an ‘easily approaching’ -method for conducting business. “During my brief career I’ve already managed to personally walk straight to a guild room to solve one organization’s problem. I don’t know if previous society specialists have been so forward in their actions”, he laughs.

As one of the biggest challenges in the University community, Viinikka mentions the divide between international and other students. “The integration of international students to the rest of the student community is an on-going challenge that we must work on”. Especially Covid-19 put a set back to this work, according to Viinikka, and now extra attention must be paid to it.

As greetings Viinikka urges students to go to exchange. “It is a fine opportunity that vexatiously few students exploit”.

WHO’S THIS?

NAME Viljami Viinikka

AGE 25

STUDIES Chemistry

FROM Lumijoki

Julkaistu 23.1.20231.2.2023

Tuuli Heikura

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

Lue lisää:

The University of Oulu is investing in international students – new career guidance service and events this year

The University of Oulu has decided to improve its Career Counseling and Employability Services by creating a new position specializing in foreign talent. Two of the reasons for this new service are an increasing number of overseas students enrolled in the degree programs and the new public trend Finland of tapping into international talent already located in the country.

In English Opiskelu Yleinen

TEKSTI Anca M. Catana

At the beginning of the academic year 2020–2021, the University of Oulu extended its Career Counseling and Employability Services. More specialized support for international students will be provided by Angela Suorsa. She is the new International Student Career Guidance & Employability Designer at the University of Oulu.

As a result, there are now two Career Services Specialists at our University. The first is Outi Tolonen, who will focus on local students. The second is Angela Suorsa, who will be offering career guidance for international students and researchers and support in their post-graduation job hunt.

In practice, the new service aims to offer students with international background guidance tailored to their specific needs. The service helps with job seeking, job marketing, integrating into working life, supporting thesis and traineeship placement opportunities finding.

This year’s timetable is already booked with some exciting events, like the new Oulu at your service event this week.

What are the particular attributes of international talents, and what are some of the challenges they face?

According to Angela, job hunting is different for international students compared to local students.

“Although their international background could be used as a strength in their application, many fail to present their competencies in the application documents properly.”

For example, a common mistake made by international talent is that when mentioning their work experience from abroad, they fail to offer a clear picture of the company and the work tasks.

Finnish employers can evaluate the job seeker’s experience from the same country because they are familiar with the education, the expected skills, the working conditions, the legislation, and the requirements. However, it is challenging for local employers to know everything about education systems around the world. They might also not be familiar with the companies in the international arena where students have gained their working experience. As a result, it is more challenging to relate to them and their background.

“Therefore, the employers do not find an answer to the question: What can he do for my company and me? Nor can they answer the question: Do I need him?”

Nevertheless, cultural differences in job hunting and work mentality play a role as well. While a lengthy CV is considered an advantage in some countries, the Finnish employer won’t read one longer than 1–2 pages. The Finnish custom of addressing superiors by their first name might feel extremely impolite for people who worked in companies with a strict addressing etiquette.

“Two years are not enough”

Since the international Master’s level programs last two years, a significant challenge identified by Angela is that students usually do not have enough time to properly educate themselves about the local job market and create a strong professional and personal network.

“When applying for a Master’s Degree, international students already have a more precise idea of what career path they would like to follow. They might also have some work experience. Still, they might have different values and weaker networks, which means they need additional support upon graduation, compared to the local students.”

For the future, Angela would like to see supportive programs developed in close collaboration with the city of Oulu and the regional employment office (Te-toimisto). Such programs could connect the international students directly to the local working market and even help establish contact with the employers on behalf of the students during and after graduation.

Also, more emphasis on the sense of belonging of the international student is needed in the future. The feeling of being valued and worthy will encourage them to be more active in creating their career path and taking part in events designed to help them.

What opportunities does Oulu have to offer to its international talent?

According to Finnish law, the municipalities, like the City of Oulu, are responsible for developing an integration plan for refugees and immigrants. This usually means offering language courses and basic education.

However, as Angela points out, there is a risk that the highly skilled immigrants and university graduates fall outside of the municipality’s integration programs and the free support services that come with them.

As a result, they are not eligible to receive services such as one-year-long intensive Finnish language courses, employability guidance, familiarization with the health care system, or assistance with the paperwork related to other practical dimensions of day to day life in the community.

This can be perceived as a discouraging factor by international talent because they lack the Finnish language skills that would allow them to access more services, as well as an overall understanding of the Finnish systems and society upon graduation.

Oulu at your service (20.01.2021)

The University of Oulu’s Academic Affairs and Counselling Services are organizing an event. The event is being held together with the municipality on the 20th of January at 14.00. Oulu at your service aims to improve the visibility of the services that the City of Oulu has to offer to international talent.

Oulu at your service is an online event for all international students, researchers, alumni, employees, and their families.

During the event, you will have the opportunity to find out more about the municipality’s public transport and library services, daycares and schools, Finnish language courses, well-being, health, leisure, and entrepreneurship name a few – basically, all the essential information for a newcomer to Oulu.

You can ask specific questions in the chat and get answers from experts in different fields during the webinar. You can also send your questions in advance to angela.suorsa@oulu.fi and get your questions answered during the event. You can find the detailed program here and the registration form here.

Julkaistu 18.1.20211.2.2023

Anca M. Catana

Education student, theater enthusiast, nature lover. Curious, spontaneous and ambitious, open for new challenges.

Lue lisää:

From hybrid to fully online, Löyly hopes to inspire students in job hunting

Employment event Löyly will be held fully online this year. In its fourth year the event includes familiar keynotes and workshops focusing on how to find a job in Oulu even in a pandemic.

In English Yleinen

TEKSTI Iida Putkonen

January has rolled around again. At the University of Oulu, that means it’s almost time for Löyly. Many people have yet to return from their holiday break, but the organizers of the event are already busy preparing. One of them is Katariina Sarja.

“I don’t think we ever considered cancelling the event. Instead we decided to move to an online environment pretty early on”, she says.

Löyly is an employment event aimed especially at international degree students. In short: its aim is to help students find a job in Oulu. This year the corona pandemic has changed plans, but the event is going to be held again, for the fourth time this year.

“Löyly has been a hybrid event even in previous years. That is, we’ve streamed some of the program to Youtube and Facebook. As the corona pandemic hasn’t let up, we’ve moved completely online for this year”, Sarja explains.

Katariina Sarja works as OYY’s Specialist of Events and Associations. Alongside OYY, Student Union of the University of Oulu, are OSAKO (Student Union of Oulu University of Applied Sciences), Talent Hub Oulu and BusinessOulu.

Sarja is organizing Löyly for the third year in a row on the 14th of January. She hopes that despite the pandemic students will find their way to the event once again.

“The event is aimed at international students but I sincerely hope everyone who is interested will participate, it doesn’t matter if you’re not an international student.”

The same event, just online

Apart from helping students find jobs, the aim of the event is also to let businesses in Oulu know about the potential that international students hold. In previous years this was done by holding a job fair with local businesses. This year that’s not possible, but the key parts that make Löyly what it is remain unchanged.

“The constant in Löyly is the core of the program: keynotes and workshops. These weren’t all too hard to move to an online platform”, Sarja says.

This year the event focuses on different aspects of employment, especially during the pandemic. How to make connections and network amidst a pandemic and how to make an impressive video CV are some of the questions the event will answer. In total the one-day-event includes 3 keynotes from different speakers and 2 workshops.

Despite months of preparation, there are still unanswered questions in holding an event online. One of them is the amount of participants compared to previous years.

“I have no idea how many people we can expect this year. There’s a chance that people from outside of Oulu will also participate online, but at the same time this academic year we have fewer international students than usual, so less participants from Oulu”, Sarja ponders.

Instead of fancy stages and lights, the keynotes will be held from the speakers’ own computer screens. Still, there are also upsides to organizing an event virtually.

“We are free of the shackles of physical events, for example having to be in a certain place at the right time, having to come to the campus physically. It will be interesting to see how it goes on the day”, Sarja says.

Inspiring every student

Sarja hopes that the event will go smoothly, but also that the atmosphere will be equally inspiring online.

“I hope that people will have room to compare their own employment stories to Löyly’s program somehow.”

The event will be held next week, on the 14th of January. Sign-up is still open and the organizers hope to reach as many people as possible.

“The start of the year is a good time for anyone to broaden their skills and think about their future work. There is no need to know anything beforehand, you can just show up”, Sarja says.

An online-only event is a first for Löyly, but the organizers think that the future will hold even more online features. Their vision is to continue with a hybrid of online and offline parts but to also strengthen their online presence. The future is largely unknown, but hopes are high.

“I hope that every single international degree student will know about Löyly in the future, that they will know where to go and possess all the skills taught at the event”, Sarja concludes.

Löyly 2021 employment event is organized by the Student Union of the University of Oulu (OYY) and Student Union of Oulu University of Applied Sciences (OSAKO) together with Business Oulu. The event takes place online and consists of workshops and keynote speeches. You can find the sign-up form and the program on the Löyly website.

Julkaistu 7.1.20211.2.2023

Iida Putkonen

Oulun ylioppilaslehden entinen päätoimittaja. Tiedeviestinnän maisteri ja glögin ympärivuotinen kuluttaja. Etsii revontulia, riippumattoja ja juuri oikeita sanoja.