These are the new student members of the University Council

The University Council represents the interests of all students and staff. It is, in effect, the House of Representatives of Utrecht University (UU). It participates in discussions about the university's policy in areas such as education, research, finance, personnel and student welfare, thereby helping to determine the university's direction.

The council has the right of consent on certain matters, such as the main points of the budget. Last year, for example, the student section prevented UU from abolishing honours programmes offered at the faculty level. On other matters, however, the council only has the right to advise. The University Council comprises twelve staff members and twelve student members. This year, five student parties are represented on the council, with two of them being new. These are the Utrecht Fair Party for Students (Dutch acronym: Rups) and the Student Coalition Utrecht. 

Lijst Vuur 
Lijst Vuur is a veteran party mainly rooted in study associations. Vuur stands for a sustainable university, an accessible and inclusive campus, and internationalisation, among other things. With half of the seats, Vuur is the largest party in the student section this year.

Third-year Interdisciplinary Social Science student Hermen Horzelenberg is the party leader. He served on the Social Sciences Faculty Council in the 2024-2025 academic year. In his spare time, Horzelenberg enjoys gaming and going out for a drink. ‘I also travel to places I've never visited before as often as I can.’ Horzelenberg recently appeared in a TV debate for young people, discussing his difficult search for a room.

Fifth-year Psychology student Dewi van Onselen is the chair of the student section. She was also a member of the Social Sciences Faculty Council last year, as well as a member of her programme committee in 2023-2024. Van Onselen is a ‘serial hobby collector', in her own words. ‘I alternate between crocheting, knitting, reading, doing puzzles, gaming, meeting up with friends, walking and running. Every month I take up something different.’

Boris Wesseldijk is a Master's student in History of Politics and Society. He was a student member of the Humanities Faculty Board in 2024-2025. ‘In my spare time, I like to read books (preferably historical, but also fiction), cycle and walk in nature. I'm also up for playing some football, and I like to read or listen to books in English, German and French.’

Third-year Sociology student Amber Ipenburg is a member of the Usocia study association, of which she was a part of the board last year.  She is also a member of the Studance sports association and enjoys bouldering and tennis. ‘I also love cooking and exploring new restaurants, coffee shops and bakeries in Utrecht.’

Rina Heirbaut is a third-year student in Economics & Business Economics and was a member of the Faculty Council of Law, Economics, Governance & Organisation Science (Rebo) during the last academic year. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, DYI projects, inline skating, going out with friends and hiking.

Finally, third-year Biology student Nikki de Bruijn is the last student representing Vuur in the council. For the past two years, she has been a member of the Faculty Council at the Faculty of Scince. In the 2024-2025 academic year, she was the vice-chair of her study association, the Utrecht Biologists Association (UBV). ‘In my spare time, I like to paint, alter clothes, and going to rock concerts and festivals... but most of all, I like to be involved in the activities of my study association.’

Lijst Vuur. From left to right: Amber, Boris, Hermen, Dewi, Rina and Nikki

Representing students
The Vuur members are passionate representatives. Dewi believes ‘it is extremely important that students have a voice at the university and are given the opportunity to be heard.’ Hermen: 'Bureaucracy and excessive compromises cause people to lose faith in their ability to change things. I want to work towards a university where every student knows that their opinion is valued and that we all have the power to shape this institution.'

Nikki: ‘I have been involved in student participation since primary school. It felt like the right step to join the University Council. After serving on the faculty council for two years, I have finally gained a deeper understanding of how the university operates. This makes me hope that I can really change something.’ Boris has also been interested in politics since his youth. ‘I feel driven to contribute to society and represent ordinary people. I really enjoy debates where we try to find consensus and work together despite political differences of opinion.’

The Vuur members aim to address several key issues during this council year. Dewi wants to give pre-master's students the right to vote in the University Council elections; they are currently not allowed to vote. She also wants the allowances for representatives on the University Council, faculty councils and programme committees to be more proportionate. ‘Currently, the ones on the University Council receive higher remuneration than those in other representative bodies; I want this to be rectified.’ Boris also wants to campaign for higher administrative grants.

Amber wants to ensure that lecturers without research time, who usually do not have a PhD, can obtain a permanent contract. Currently, they only receive a temporary contract. ‘I also want projects or organisational units that I consider important – such as the Skills Lab – to continue to exist.’ Rina advocates for a fully plant-based canteen by 2030. ‘I also want to improve the quality of life in De Uithof.’ Nikki: ‘I want to focus on “non-standard” students, by which I mean students who are neurodivergent or chronically ill, and students with disabilities. I am neurodivergent myself.’

PvdUS
Whereas Vuur has its support base in the study associations, the Party of the Utrecht Student (PvdUS) is mainly supported by student associations and sports associations. PvdUS is committed to a diverse student life, fair board grants and the flexibilisation of education, among other things. The student party has three seats in this council year. Lot Peters is the PvdUS party leader and a Master's student in Economic Policy. She rows at Triton, and also cycles and runs. She also enjoys cooking and baking. Kim Brandsen is a third-year Economics & Business Economics student and a member of the Veritas student association. She enjoys walking, running and sitting on terraces. Fourth-year History student Veerle Oude Lenferink is a member of UVSV. ‘I like doing fun things with my friends, such as eating, drinking and exercising together. I also enjoy going on trips and walking.’

The student members want to have a say in university policy in order to make a difference for students. Veerle: ‘Students should be heard regardless of background. I also believe that students should have the opportunity to develop themselves in multiple areas alongside their studies. I have benefited from this myself since the beginning of my student life.’

Kim also cherishes a rich student life. ‘I'm having a great time as a student. This is partly due to the good education and all the things I can do outside of my studies, such as my association and sports.’ She wants to ensure that others have such an enjoyable student life too. She is committed to sustainability and improving ties with both study and student associations. Additionally, she aims to enhance student welfare by investing in student sports and increasing board grants. Veerle also favours increasing the name recognition of the University Council.

PvdUS. From left to right: Veerle, Lot en Kim. Own picture

Rups

One of the two new parties, Rups stands for practical solutions to the problems faced by UU students. It advocates for a better and more affordable supermarket at Utrecht Science Park (USP) and more flexible rules for compensating students for failing grades.

Lucas Meijer Galan, a fifth-year student of Public Administration and Organisation Science, is the co-founder of Rups. In his spare time, Meijer Galan enjoys playing tennis and running. He has a part-time job in a supermarket in his hometown: ‘It's a nice way to escape my busy life in Utrecht for a while.’ Lucas would like to work on improving the Spar supermarket at USP, so that students have a supermarket with a ‘full range of products and reasonable prices.’

Lucas Meijer Galan, Rups. 

Student Coalition Utrecht

Student Coalition Utrecht is de andere nieuwkomer en maakt zich hard voor het verbreken van de banden met Israël. Daarnaast wil de partij betere voorzieningen voor studenten, waaronder meer eetgelegenheden en stilteruimtes. Sara Aksakal is derdejaarsstudent Rechtsgeleerdheid en wil meepraten met het universitaire beleid om veranderingen teweeg te brengen. “Met mijn juridische achtergrond vind ik rechtvaardigheid belangrijk.” Ze houdt van lezen, volleyballen en speuren naar tweedehandsboeken en -platen. “Ik wil dat regelingen rondom herkansingen soepeler worden, dat beleid meer rekening houdt met mensen met verschillende achtergronden en dat de universiteit naast een onderwijsinstantie ook een plek is waar sociale veiligheid en rechtvaardigheid voorop staat.”

Sara Aksakal, Utrecht Student Coalition. Own picture

Outspoken Student Party (VSP)

VSP is represented in the council by the student of Public Administration and Organisation Science Lloyd-Leonard Opdam. He was a member of the Law, Economics & Governance faculty council in the 2024-2025 academic year, and is active in local politics for the municipality of Harderwijk.

In his spare time, Lloyd-Leonard enjoys playing football. ‘I still kick a ball around myself and often watch my brother, who plays football at a professional level.’ Lloyd-Leonard believes ‘that not all perspectives and voices are given equal space within the university and that UU is too much in its own bubble’. He wants to change that.

He also loves politics: ‘Debating, consulting and representing people are a privilege and a joy for me.’ Lloyd-Leonard wants to work towards ‘a safe study environment for Jewish and Israeli students,’ who feel unsafe due to the pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus. He also wants to investigate academic freedom at UU and propose initiatives to bridge the gap between the university and society.

Lloyd-Leonard Opdam, Outspoken Student Party. Own picture