When the government postponed the transition to stage four of the reopening plan on 28 July, the message was that the further reopening would take place in mid-August at the earliest.
In an interview with TV 2 on 28 July said Erna Solberg that she thought step four would be introduced in 14 days. The relief will then take effect a few days in advance, or the same day as several of the sponsor weeks begin.
At the same time, infection rates in Norway are rising. Popular study cities such as Bergen and Trondheim are experiencing increasing infection, and NIPH says that it may be relevant with local infection control measures such as pouring stops and the use of bandages.
In Bergen, the municipality says that may become relevant with new measures.
These factors mean that the sponsorship weeks this year must be flexible. Several of the largest sponsorship weeks are now planned both for there to be further relief and for there to be sudden local tightening.
Three scenarios
Sponsor coordinator at OsloMet, Henriette Sarastuen Franck, believes that the sponsor weeks are better equipped to cope with the infection situation this year.
– I think that we, like the rest of society, are much more used to the pandemic now than last year. This time we have had much longer to prepare.
Kick-off and welcome ceremony will take place digitally, the sponsor groups will not exceed 20 people, and the largest events are planned for a maximum of 100 people.
– Sponsorship coordinator at OsloMet, Henriette Franck, has asked the various sponsor groups to plan according to three scenarios. Photo: PRIVATE
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– This year we are open for the events and program to change in August. We are usually not that flexible.
In addition, the various sponsor boards at the various faculties have been told to plan according to three scenarios.
– They must plan both that things are as they are now, that things mainly become digital and that things actually open up further. The latter scenario will probably not be very relevant.
Franck still believes that most sponsors and sponsor children will experience that the sponsor weeks this year are relatively normal.
– Bar-to-bar is one of the activities that must be continuously evaluated whether it is sound or not. We have considered that activity to be more risky than the other activities.
The light trail is back
One place where it is planned for bar-to-bar, is Tromsø. The traditional Lysløypa is planned to be infection-friendly.
– The light trail is back this year! There will be 35 groups with a maximum of 10 people each. This is possible because each group will have a large distance to each other as each group has different start times.
– GETS GOOD: Leader of DebutUKA in Tromsø, Tobias Hjermann, is looking forward to welcoming new students to Nordic Paris. Photo: Isak Gustavsen
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This is what the leader of DebutUKA 2021, Tobias Hjermann, says.
Every single event in Tromsø is now planned to both increase and decrease capacity.
– In addition, we have purchased streaming equipment if it should become relevant to have any of the events fully digital or a combination between digital and physical.
Hoping for corona certificate
In Trondheim, they are really ready before this year’s sponsor week.
The leader of the sponsor committee Dragvoll, Fabian Kolbergsrud Espeland, says that the sponsor week will be relatively normal.
– The municipality has facilitated outdoor events with 4 times 200 people outdoors. In addition, we are working to be able to get a corona certificate solution. Then we can take in 5 times 400 people where everyone has received the first vaccine dose.
– CERTIFICATE SOLUTION: In Trondheim, they hope to get a corona certificate solution before the sponsor week, says leader of the sponsor committee Dragvoll, Fabian Espeland. Photo: Private
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Espeland says that there is more uncertainty associated with the events indoors.
But in any case, it is not the biggest events that are most important for the students, according to Espeland.
– We are prepared to have to make changes to the largest events. The most important thing is that the scheme for the line associations can be implemented. This is where students get classmates. We really hope that nothing gets in the way of them, even if there should be some local austerity.
No sniffing on ours!
Bergen has in recent days had a rising infection trend over time.
During the sponsorship week last year, UIB had to cancel all events in the evening.
– How are you going to avoid something similar happening this year?
– That is the big question. It is essential that everyone practices basic infection control hard. No one should sit and sniff at ours, regardless of whether you think it is most likely a simple cold, says sponsor coordinator at UIB, Martin Jakobsen.
Jakobsen says that most of the sponsor groups will be around 20 people, but that all the groups will be told to split up if they are unable to keep the meter.
– The largest events will basically accommodate around 250-300 people. But we plan for both an upscaling and a downscaling in everything we do.
– OFFER TO EVERYONE: Sponsorship coordinator at UIB, Martin Jakobsen, says that last year’s sponsor children will eventually receive an offer. Photo: Private
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Earlier in May, Minister of Research and Higher Education Henrik Aasheim launched the idea that this year’s sponsorship week should also include last year’s students.
None of the sponsor boards TV 2 has spoken to say that this will be implemented.
In Bergen, however, there will be a certain offer for those who did not get a party last year.
– All the institutes have received funds to make a plan for last year’s sponsor children. What this scheme will be is up to each individual department. This is done the week after the original sponsor week.
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