Tuesday, March 24, 2009

At least they recognize what's important

The student organization (Elevorganisasjonen) claims that it's illegal to expel (for one day) students who are caught using snus (perhaps the brand and concept Skoal is more familiar to folks Stateside). Featured in the piece is a photo of the student organization leader, Håvard Vederhus, mugging it up for the cam with what I assume is his most intimidating yet intellectual look. At least it's good to know that the student organization really cares about the important things - you know; the quality of the education, relevance of textbooks, level of school with respect to requirements at higher institutes of learning.

This epic battle between "The Man" and the downtrodden is based in a new rule which a high school in Porsgrunn rolled out this week, wherein the school reserved the right to expel for one day any student caught using snus. According to the brilliant legal minds in the student organization, this is illegal. Equipped with their razor-sharp wits, years of legal experience and three episodes of Boston Legal Vederhus and his posse dug up a preceding case from a high school in Gausdal, where the Department of Education ruled that the school could not deny access to students who showed up late for class or forgot their books. Clearly the punishment must be proportional to the crime. Besides, the use of snus on school grounds should be legal as long as it doesn't bother anybody.

The school regulations reportedly include a total ban on the use of any form of tobacco on school property.

Do you think the legal juggernauts in this student organization have much of a case based on the above facts and statements?

14 comments:

Anders said...

Where do you dig up these stories? If I remember correctly, Elevorganisasjonen was founded back in the 90's due to some disagreed with the current student organisation (on what issues, I can't recall). And this is the what they prefer to spend time on?

Wilhelm said...

...all it takes is browsing vg and dagbladet online every now and then...

Yeah; I'm impressed with their laser-like focus on the important student issues

Anders said...

Man, I had to check out that photo of a young mr. Vederhus again. It's just something there that says he's heading for a career as a real estate agent.

Anders said...

Ah, you're gonna love this, Wilhelm.

I googled the disagreement I mentioned in my first comment. And get this: The new student organisations first main issue, was a more positive approach to Reform 94... (I know how much you love that reform)
:-)

Anonymous said...

Ja, la oss alle snakke om norske nyheter, elevorganisasjonen og snus på engelsk!

Wilhelm said...

..and then let's comment on said English-speaking blog in Norwegian.

Internal logic fail

SMS Tabloid much?

Wilhelm said...

I googled the disagreement I mentioned in my first comment. And get this: The new student organisations first main issue, was a more positive approach to Reform 94...

..a more positive approach to Reform '94? What would that entail, precisely?

Anders said...

A small correction to my first comment: The original student organisation, Norges Gymnasiastsamband (NGS) was founded in 1959. In 1993, due to a disagreement, a fraction broke out and founded Norsk Elevorganisasjon (NEO). Must have been a serious disagreement, because only two years(!) later the organisations started negotiations about a merger. And in 1999 they merged into Elevorganisasjonen.

fascinate stuff. No?

Anders said...

..a more positive approach to Reform '94? What would that entail, precisely?

I think NGU was against reform 94 (in principle) and NEO supported it. Sure, it wasn't black and white, but that was one of their main disagreements when it came to student politics.

And, may I add, is a helluva better issue to discuss then snus...

Wilhelm said...

Must have been a serious disagreement, because only two years(!) later the organisations started negotiations about a merger. And in 1999 they merged into Elevorganisasjonen.

Serious business. Much like the interweb

And, may I add, is a helluva better issue to discuss then snus...

No kiddin'

Anonymous said...

It's not exactly classy to dismiss someone's opinion because they are young or have a particular kind of look to them, you know. As the directorate more or less clearly say in the article, expelling students is a serious issue, that the law reserves for repeated or serious violations of the school code. This means, you know, that the student organization is right. In other words, they make you look rather stupid.

Anders said...

This means, you know, that the student organization is right. In other words, they make you look rather stupid.

In other words, pointing out that there are more important issue when it comes education and student life then to defend people unable to obey simple rules and pick up their own trash? Yeah, that makes him look really stupid...

Wilhelm said...

Anonymous:

It's not exactly classy to dismiss someone's opinion because they are young or have a particular kind of look to them, you know.

Just curious; when you read the post you came to the conclusion that the look and age were what made me dismiss the argumentation? Point out to me, please, where I state any such thing.


As the directorate more or less clearly say in the article, expelling students is a serious issue, that the law reserves for repeated or serious violations of the school code. This means, you know, that the student organization is right.

That's how you interpret the text? Did the text say anything with respect to how they ranked the severity of the no tobacco violation? If not, the directory did not necessarily lend any support to the student organization, you know....

In other words, they make you look rather stupid.

So you didn't catch the problem with the two conflicting arguments made by the organization, I take it.

Glorious; it's nice to see that they allow internet access for those who ride the short bus.

Wilhelm said...

In other words, pointing out that there are more important issue when it comes education and student life then to defend people unable to obey simple rules and pick up their own trash? Yeah, that makes him look really stupid...

Apparently so