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lecture hall with a lot of students © Jürgen Huhn​/​TU Dortmund
NEW ASTA CHAIRPERSONS

Three Questions for Lara Witte and Darius Weitekamp

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Two people wearing black shirts with the AStA logo and standing in front of a green willow: Darius Weitekamp on the left, Lara Witte on the right © Denise Brüßermann​/​AStA
The Student Parliament elected Lara Witte and Darius Weitekamp as chairpersons of the General Student Committee (AStA).
Since early July 2024, Lara Witte and Darius Weitekamp have been the new chairpersons of the General Student Committee (AStA). In this interview, they discuss their main goals and how TU students can get involved at the university.

Ms. Witte, Mr. Weitekamp, what motivated you to run for the AStA chair?

Lara Witte: I have been involved in the student council of my former department since the beginning of my studies. After changing my major, I left my old student council but still wanted to engage in university politics for the student body. Since the beginning of the year, I have been the Head Officer for Culture and Entertainment in the AStA, but I saw greater potential for personal development and the opportunity to engage more deeply with the student community in the chair position.

Darius Weitekamp: This is now my third legislature, and I felt it was time for me to take on this responsibility. In fact, there weren’t many other candidates, as the AStA – like student councils, the student parliament, and university politics in general – lacks students who want to get involved and shape the campus. We need more of them.

Apart from that, what are your main goals for your term in office?

Lara Witte: I want to make university politics more transparent for students and improve communication in this area. A project close to my heart is the management of the Dörstelmann Seminar House on the South Campus, which I carried over from my previous Department of Culture. Additionally, I want to make the campus more vibrant.

Darius Weitekamp: To me, it is important that all students can participate in university life and have equal opportunities. I also see the need for the student body to take a political stance and position itself clearly. It is particularly important to me to bring the students’ voice into state and federal politics. We will also keep a critical eye on the developments of the Deutschland-Ticket.

How can students get involved at TU Dortmund University?  

Lara Witte: Student councils are always a good starting point for getting involved at the university. They organize orientation weeks for new students and are available to help with course-specific and department-related questions. Additionally, there are around 20 student working groups at the university that focus on topics such as sustainability, culture, or human rights. There are also the autonomous committees of the AStA, which focus on minority representation and offer various related activities.

Darius Weitekamp: All students can also directly participate in university politics. Once a year, committee elections are held, where the Student Parliament (only german) (StuPa) and the Senate are elected. Students organize themselves into lists, through which they can run for election and then represent the interests of the student body in the StuPa and Senate. The AStA is the executive body of the parliament. Whether in the parliament, the Senate, or in other ways, anyone with time and interest can get involved in many areas.

AStA Website

About the persons:

Lara Witte (27) has been at TU Dortmund University since 2019 and is studying for a Master’s degree in Educational Science in her first semester. Since January 2024, she has been involved in the AStA as the Head Officer for Culture and Entertainment, and previously she was active in the student council. In 2024, she was elected chairperson of the AStA.

Darius Weitekamp (25) has been at TU Dortmund University since 2020 and is studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education Teaching. Since 2022, he has been involved in the AStA and is the International Affairs Officer. In 2024, he was elected deputy chairperson of the AStA.

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