The AStA is the executive body of the constituted student body. We understand the AStA as a political student body that represents the interests of students both within and outside the university.
We see ourselves as anti-fascist, anti-racist, queer-feminist and internationalist. In general, we oppose division and all forms of discrimination. We are committed to solidarity and a university that is designed to meet the needs of all students.
We see many problems at our university. Studying is increasingly becoming a luxury. Rent and everything we need to live on is getting more expensive, which is why over 80 percent of students are currently living in poverty. The semester fee is also becoming a burden for many: it has risen by more than 50 euros in the last three semesters, and despite promises to ease the financial burden on students, we are still paying administrative costs. We are currently the second most expensive university in Germany.
Very few students receive BAföG, and it is not enough to live on. And student spaces are being curtailed an the recent legislative change regarding political expulsion further restricts student engagement at the university. That is why we are working to ensure adequate funding for our university and to oppose cuts to social services, as well as the erosion of student-run spaces.
We are concerned about the AfD, which is gaining more and more power, and the shift to the right within the governing parties and society. Far-right structures are gaining strength across Europe, including here in Hanover. The Ghibellinia-Leipzig fraternity acts as a networking hub for the New Right and the AfD youth wing in Hanover; left-wing spaces, as well as migrants and minorities, are under attack. If you come from abroad or have a migrant background, you are not alone here.
We organise a series of political events, including the Festival contre le racisme, and defend students' interests in university politics and beyond. Together with other groups and initiatives, we campaign for a more democratic university and society that is a better place to live.
And we support you directly. If you’re a student facing financial hardship, you can apply for interest-free loans, a refund on your semester ticket or free canteen vouchers. We also offer a range of advisory services, including advice on BAföG and social security, university and study guidance, as well as specialist support for international students. We have an anti-discrimination team that you can contact if you experience any form of discrimination, either within or outside the university.
The world and the university don’t have to stay the way they are. The university thrives on us, as students, standing up for our interests and shaping the university and our studies ourselves.
So get involved in political groups, initiatives or your student councils! Let’s work together to make this university and society a better place to live.
