Stúdentablaðið - 01.12.2009, Side 34

December in Bóksala stúdenta - not just for
students
Many may remember having seen Bóksala stúdenta
- the Student Bookstore - from Hringbraut, in its former
headquarters next to the National Museum. Nowadays
it resides in Háskólatorg, a recent structure next to the
university's main building. Since the year 2007, the
lcelandic Student Services (Félagsstofnun stúdenta) have
in Háskólatorg, along with the bookstore, been running
the restaurant Háma which also serves as a cafeteria
for students. The lcelandic Student Services for example
build up student housing and run nursery schools for the
children of students, as well as cafeterias on campus,
along with providing students access to books and
healthy food for a fair price. The bookstore also sells
college textbooks and the lcelandic Student Services have
been running an online book exchange for university
students. Therefore, no actual book exchange goes on
in the bookstore; rather, people can register their books
for sale on the website www.studentamidlun.is. In that
way, students get an opportunity to find those books
they need online and contact the seller directly. This
considerably lowers the price of used books since there is
no commission charge; the sellers themselves price their
books
The Christmas season is beginning
Bóksala stúdenta is open weekdays all year round, and will
also stay open the last two Saturdays before Christmas.
Unllke students, the bookstore therefore neither takes
time off for summer or Christmas. Margeir Gunnar
Sigurðsson, a member of staff, says business increases as
Christmas draws near. "Mostly students," Margeir replies
when asked who mainly shops at the store; he says it is
possible that students try to buy presents for their loved
ones at the bookstore. The store has its regular clientele
who come every year and enjoy shopping there. Of course
the busiest time is always at the beginning of each term,
when students swarm in to purchase textbooks. Gradually
the traffic decreases over the course of the term, as
Margeir puts it, and although this country's bookworms
might not think of popping over to the university to buy
their Christmas books, there is still a Christmas rush there
as in other stores. The bookstore sells all major textbooks
and academic texts used at university level in lceland, but
that is far from the only thing it provides. The store has
the same to offer as other bookstores in this city and the
Christmas books have of course all arrived. When asked,
Margeir says it would be good to see more people outside
the university do business with the bookstore. Over the
past two Christmas seasons, students and university staff
have made up the majority of its clients, but everyone is of
course welcome, Margeir says.
Vampire romances and graphic novels
What's special about Bóksala stúdenta is the fact that
nowhere else in lceland can you find as large a seiection
of foreign language books. If you search in between
the medical textbooks, law books and other academic
works, you can find a number of entertaining and unusual
categories. One of the categories is dedicated to graphic
novels. Of these there is not a large selection in your
average bookstore. This section wasn't created around
a particular university course, says Margeir; rather, they
try and maintain a varied selection of books which might
appeal to all students at the university.
When our reporter arrived he came across a display of
books from the category of romantic vampire stories.
These are books in the same vein as the Twilight series,
which has been immensely popular with the younger
generation over the past couple of years, both through
recent translations and films. When asked if people often
buy books other than academic texts, Margeir replies that
this happens frequently and that students often also grab
a book they want to read once they're done with their
homework.
University students no doubt find it convenient to have a
bookstore on campus, since you can also go there if you
need anything to help you with your studies, or on other
occasions; there is a well-stocked stationery section and
a selection of gift items. There is a suitable Christmas
present to be found for everyone at Háskólatorg, whether
it be the latest Arnaldur Indríðason crime novel, a fantasy
paperback, a medical textbook or one of the many foreign
language books that Bóksala stúdenta has to offer.
Þorgerður Ösp Arnþórsdóttir
Transgender Days at the University of lceland
The University of lceland recently celebrated the so-called
Transgender Days. This was a joint venture by Q - Queer
Student Organization and Trans lceland. Among other
events, three seminars took place on the situation of
transgender people in lceland. Our reporter sat down with
Sesselja Maria Mortensen, the president of Q, to discuss
the organization and issues to do with transgender people
in lceland.
The Queer Student Organization has been operating since
1998 and therefore has a relatively short history within the
university. The organization's website, queer.is, states that
everyone is welcome to join, whether gay, bi, transgender
or uncertain of their sexual orientation. The organization
is for all those who care about these groups. People who
are taking the first few steps, have just come out or are
curious to find out more should get in contact, since the
organization aims to be a relaxed space for people to
meet up with and get to know people of a similar age.
Important work
"There's been a tightly knit group involved with the
organization ever since it was founded, but that group
STÚDENTABLAÐIÐ
of course gets smaller or larger depending on how much
is going on with the organization. Those of us on the
committee are planning all sorts of events this week, plus
we throw a Q night every week where people can meet
up, chat and have a good time together," Sesselja says,
full of high hopes for this coming semester.
"It's very important that an organization such as this be
run within the university community. The organization
is in charge of educating people about the issues of
queer students, and it provides a necessary space for
these groups where people of a similar age, with similar
interests, can meet up and have a good time," Sesselja
says and then adds: "Although the situation of gay people
is pretty good within the university, it's always important
to have an ongoing discussion of these issues."
What does it mean to be transgender?
Many people don't know what the word "transgender"
refers to, as became evident during the making of this
artide. Sesselja says the concept really covers all those
who are in an unconventional situation when it comes
to their gender. "They can be individuals who want
to have their gender corrected, or those who adopt
another gender role by dressing up, but the concept also
includes so-called intersex individuals who may have been
born with male and female genitalia, or they may have
undefined genitalia," Sesselja says.
When asked about the situation of transgender people
within the university, Sesselja says that since it's not a
large group, most simply want to fit in and therefore don't
specifically step up to fight for their rights. She doesn't
feel it would be right for her to make any claims on their
behalf about whether or not they experience a lot of
prejudice within the university.
As previously mentioned, three seminars were recently
held on issues relating to transgender individuals. "The
aim of these seminars was to throw a light on the position
of trans people in lcelandic society, and draw people's
attention to issues of transgender to mark the occasion
of the Transgender Day of Remembrance," Sesselja says.
This day has been celebrated in many countries over the
past few years, in remembrance of those who have died
as a result of prejudice towards trans people. According
to a website put together for this day, there have been
9S registered deaths this year which can be traced back
to prejudice. One may assume that numerous such cases
have not been registered.
"Seminars such as these are very important, both as a
tool to open up discussion on the matter of transgender
individuals, and also to give people an opportunity to talk
about it and ask questions," Sesselja says, and adds that
Transgender Days exceeded their expectations. She claims
to have been particularly happy with the final seminar,
which was dedicated to choice of words and how we
discuss transgender in lcelandic. "Students of the lcelandic
language and numerous academics came to the meeting,
which was well attended, and people obviously wanted to
know how to use these concepts and are clearly interested
in how to discuss these matters with respect," Sesselja
also says.
Sesselja finally adds that there is great interest within
the organization to take this project further, and that
members are even thinking of organizing a similar event
next year.
If you want more ínformation on Q - Queer Student
Organization, you can go to their website, www.queer.
is , drop them an e-mail at gay@hi.is or friend them on
Facebook.
Ásdís Auðunsdóttir