NTNU: - They broke our deal

– We don't approve of this. It's obvious that Bindeleddet are responsible for this. They are the ones who get the profit here and they are the employers, says works manager Marit Moe at the Technical Division at NTNU.

She is reacting to Hydro's stand at Stripa at Gløshaugen, which was held right before an enterprise presentation arranged by Bindeleddet. According to Moe, the organization did not have permission to arrange such a stand and thus contravened with NTNU's regulations.

– Those that have external companies set at Stripa have to be present alongside the company's representatives. That is a condition if we are to approve a stand, and it's like that for everyone. Bindeleddet reserved the stand place for Hydro, and are therefore responsible. We made that perfectly clear, and Bindeleddet broke our deal, Moe says.

Illegal Farris cans

Hydro had an enterprise presentation on August 28th. Under Dusken have got access to an e-mail exchange between Marit Moe and Gyro, who were in charge of Hydro's marketing at Gløshaugen. In the e-mail Hydro get permission to put up a stand in the glass yard at the Electronics building on August 28th, but there is nowhere to be read that stand material is supposed to be obtained in the Central building several days before that date.

Students could help themselves to free Farris cans from Hydro's refrigerators and aluminum tubs from August 25th. According to janitor Stig Pallesen at the Central building there were four refrigerators and five aluminum tubs placed all the way down Stripa.

Marit Moe tells us that if Hydro had asked for permission, NTNU would never have said yes.

– We have to be strict. There are a lot of companies that are interested in getting in touch with the students, but NTNU is not supposed to be plastered with advertisement. Campus is for the students and the voluntary student organizations, Moe says, and she thinks that Bindeleddet and Hydro have crossed the line.

– Would it be an option to make the rules of campus use at NTNU stricter?

– Yes, it will become stricter, and Bindeleddet are one of the reasons for that. We don't want to prosecute anyone, but we expect them to respect what we tell them, Moe says.

She still wants to point out that most student organizations behave properly, and that NTNU haven't had problems with Bindeleddet earlier.

Not our responsibility

Bindeleddet's vice president, Martin Lundby, was Hydro's contact person. He thinks that Bindeleddet can't take responsibility for what Hydro has done.

The reason is that Bindeleddet asked Gyro, Hydro's marketing company, to contact NTNU for approval of all things related to the stand.

– We can't restrict the company's activities at their stand. When the company contacts NTNU, the university has to make it clear that they are not approving, if they think that the stand will be in violation of the rules, Lundby says.

Have not paid more than others

Bindeleddet don't want to tell how much Hydro paid for their presentation at NTNU.

– We will not reveal that. They have their own agreements, but they have not paid more than other companies. They pay a certain amount for the enterprise presentation, and then it's up to the company if they want to put up a stand, and what to make out of it, Lundby says.

He does not want to comment on whether or not Hydro's stand coincides with what Bindeleddet stand for.

– Hydro chose to present themselves this way. That's their decision, says Lundby.

– Marit Moe thinks that you should be responsible, how do you react to that?

– No comment.

Right before Under Dusken was sent to press, Marit Moe said that Hydro has contacted her and apologized for the incident. She also tells us that Bindeleddet have made contact and arranged a meeting. There they will make a deal between the Technical Division at NTNU and Bindeleddet, to avoid problems in the future.

Hydro changes their practice

Hydro say they acted in good faith, and are now changing their arrangement for next year's stand at NTNU.

– We're returning to NTNU on Career Day, September 18th, and then we won't hand out free aluminum cans in advance, says communications director in Hydro, Inger Sethov.

She tells us that Hydro want to make everything the right way during the preparations for the student arrangement.

– We respect and understand the local rules and regulations that are in force. And yes, this time there has been a misunderstanding previous to the arrangement, Sethov says.

– NTNU says no to advertisement from external companies at campus, but makes exceptions for companies that present job opportunities to the students. NTNU think that Hydro has crossed the line. What's your opinion?

– When fighting for the biggest brains, companies try to get attention, like we did. But if someone feels that they have been stomped on, we'll fix it. We have acted in one hundred percent good faith all the way. It's nothing but a misunderstanding, and we're glad that it has been taken care of, says Inger Sethov.

- No one abides the rules

Anne Karin Nymoen, leader of the Student Parliament at NTNU walked by Hydro's stand at Gløshaugen daily.

– Students like free stuff, but personally I think it became too much. It was very dominant, Nymoen says.

She doesn't think that NTNU need stricter rules.

– There are rules for stands at Stripa, but no one abides them. It seems like there are no consequences to breaking the rules.

She recommends Gløshaugen to learn from Dragvoll, where the student councils are responsible for people abiding the rules.

– It's wise to keep a dialogue with the faculty-based student organizations to avoid this in the future. One must find guidelines that we all can follow. I think that campus should be an area where one can avoid advertisement, and I think we all can agree on the fact that Hydro was too dominant, she says.

FACTS:

• The student organization Bindeleddet-NTNU arranges enterprise presentations and stands for companies that wish to get in touch with students at NTNU. The organization is run by students at Industrial Economics and Technology Management.

• Hydro's stand consisted of four refrigerators and five aluminum tubs with free Farris cans. Everything was branded with Hydro's logo.

• Hydro's stand at Gløshaugen was made by Gyro, an external company that organizes events, branding and marketing for their customers.

Translation: Maria Kråkmo