http://just4ikarus.wordpress.com and http://polilog.wordpress.com are his most famous blogs. they are in german and he has always an incredible opinion about things.

ladies and gentlemen, lahja proudly presents an interview with mr. just4ikarus: dominik!

lahja: so, dominik, you were a university student last year and now you changed to a university of applied science. what is the main difference about the two ways of studying?

 dominik: Yeah, I started last year at the University of Vienna, studying Media and Communication. It was a dream for me since I was 13 (really!), but after the first two weeks, it was much more like a nightmare. The Audimax was stuffed, and I just noticed, that they don’t want that much students in here.
The first semestre was so fucking boring, talking about the science itself.
After that, it became a little bit more interesting, but I started to look after an alternative very soon. And so I started at the college in St. Poelten. We’re 80 people in our year, divided into two groups. The professors try to teach every one of us, we often work in groups, and fortunately we have a little bit more pressure. Not only 3 exams at the end of the semestre, but nearly every week. I myself love my new life here at the college. Although we are paying tuition fees, I’m still fine with it.

lahja: oh that sounds very interesting. since you had been a university student for yourself, what do you thing about the whole protest in the viennese audimax and all over austria?

 dominik: If I still were living in Vienna, I just would be part of it. The protests are one of the greatest things, I can remember in my whole life. When I first read about it, (via Twitter, by the way), I wasn’t quite sure how to feel. But now, since the anarchism ended and the basis democracy has started, I love this protest.
The time has come. The minister of science, Mr. Hahn, don’t do enough for the students and the universities at all. And after all, nothing has changed for more than one decade! So, I really hope that there would be a little bit of a change in the system of the universites.
And on of the most important things is the importance of the internet. More than 2000 people are watching the livestreams every day. I have the information, that the “unibrennt”-streams are the biggest daily-streams in the world by now at ustream.com. Via Twitter and Facebook, they reach so many people, it’s fantastic; and it definitely shows the power of the world wide web.

lahja: i totally agree with you. this whole thing is brand new. the connection with internet helps this protest enormous. and that’s a big deal. sooo, have you visited the audimax yet? what were your emotions there. how would you describe the people there?

dominik: I was at the Audimax in Vienna at day 2 or 3. Of course, there was still anarchism “in da house”. But I just listened to the discussions in the plenum. I’m convinced, that it’s far more important to talk about such things. And it’s  definitely more interesting than the first semestre at the Univeristy.
Of course, there were many people drinking beer and smoking in the Audimax. Why not. Although I must admit, that I just don’t wanted to smoke in there. It’s not okay for all those non-smokers. But it has changed since this date. It has become better.

lahja: so, what do you think about the parties? in my view they give the public a complete wrong sign.

dominik: People, who don’t believe in the “audimaxism” always say, that the protests just are dumb party events. But between all these parties and fantastic cultural moments the students are working, discussing about everything.
It’s a nice, funny mix, I think. And the audimax in Vienna is probably one of the most interesting places for culture right now.

lahja: do you think that public gets enough information to have the chance to know, what we are protesting for, what our demands are.
or are you thinking, that it would be great to have a little bit more support of the public radio and tv.

dominik: The austrian broadcoaster “ORF” ignored the protests the first few days. But after the enormous demonstration, they also informed the people about what’s going on in the Audimax and all over Austria in their news.
The newspapers (e.g. Der Standard, Heute (!)) informed their readers since the beginning. And no, I don’t believe, that the people know much about the demands of the protesters. And, hell yeah! It would be great if their would be much more information in radio and tv. But today, ATV, a private broadcoaster discusses in the show “AmPunkt” about the protests. Just watch it!

lahja: how would you change the lack of information of public? what would you do against it?

dominik: The protesters just publish their own news, the “Morgen”. Maybe, they really reach their 5.000 people. That would be great. And … to get more information, it’s absolutely necessary to inform via internet. If you were able to change it, I would do it. But i can’t, unfortunately.

lahja: do you agree with me that lots of people are just too lazy to google their information about this protest and are talking against it? i know, this is a very provocative question.

dominik: Yeah. I agree with you. But there are also much people, who know the details, and still are totally against any kind of change. That’s much more awful.

lahja: like the austrian politicians?

dominik: No, they are just politicians.

lahja: yes, but they have to handle all situations in the best interest of their folk.

dominik: but they don’t. the people’s party is against any change. or they just want to regulate much more than now. the social-democrats (it’s not the right name for them) don’t really know what to do, the Freedom Party is against the protests and against the Germans. And the Greens, who has ideas, are too small to change anything.

lahja: isn’t it ironic that the freedom party is against the germans?

dominik: On the one hand, it definitely is. Always talking about being “groß-deutsche” (that means Germany and Austria united), but on the other hand still working for the normal people in Austria. Being nationalists can be still very complicated. Maybe too complicated for the Freedom Party.

lahja: so, i’m comin to the end with my questions. what do you think about german students in heidelberg and münster are accupying their universities?

dominik: Yeah, it’s not an Austrian phenomenon. It’s an European problem. So it’s the best time to start protesting all over Europe. Go on, guys! (I myself will meet more people from colleges today. We’re discussing about our demands.)

lahja: are you going to do something, declaring your solidarity or support directly?
i mean the whole group of collegues?

dominik: I don’t know. I’m quite fine with my collegue. But I myself definitely want more money for education and science. And therefore I could declare solidarity.
But there are also some people, who want to change the whole collegue-thiing. That’s wrong, in my point of view. It will be interesting, I think. And if not, I’ll run to the train to drive home.

lahja: thank you very much for this interview. it was really nice to talk with you.