Leuvense Overkoepelende Kringorganisatie (LOKO)

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Leuvense Overkoepelende Kringorganisatie (LOKO)
Loko's logo.
Info:
Name: Leuvense Overkoepelende Kringorganisatie
Abbreviation : LOKO
Type: Overarching student association
Foundation: 6 November 1986.
Location: Leuven, Belgium
Facebook: https://www.fb.com/LOKOLeuven
Website: https://www.loko.be
E-mail: loko@loko.be
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loko.leuven
Address: 's Meierstraat 5,
3000 Leuven

LOKO is an overseeing organization of students in Leuven. They represent students, organize events and support associations.

Their functioning can best be compared to that of a parliament, with the big difference that they do not adopt (party) political positions. On the one hand, all student circles meet every two weeks in a General Assembly to formulate representative positions and to discuss initiatives. On the other hand, the LOKO team consists of a number of volunteers, mandataries, who implement the decisions of the General Assembly. LOKO also recognises a large number of free associations. They receive an operating subsidy via LOKO but are not part of the General Assembly.

Structure

Beiaardcantus Leuven 2017

General Assembly

The most important body of LOKO is the General Assembly (GA). This assembly consists of representatives of the faculty circles. It decides on the positions regarding social student facilities (only for Leuven Campus), on cross-circle activities and on the financial and organizational aspects of LOKO.

With regard to sports and cultural activities, the GA has delegated its authorities to LOKO Sport and LOKO Culture. Through these bodies LOKO organizes activities such as the 24 Urenloop, the Ithaka visual arts festival and the Beiaardcantus.

Furthermore, LOKO International is a department that brings together the international student community of the KU Leuven, promotes integration and represents the international students.

Finally, the student magazine Veto and The Voice also fall within the scope of LOKO, but they work independently as far as content is concerned. The editorial board, consisting of volunteers, manages these magazines.

LOKO Culture

Before the reorganization of LOKO, LOKO Culture was known as the Cultural Council (see below). Most students in Leuven will know LOKO Culture from the organization of the visual arts festival Ithaka and from the 'Groot Dictee der Leuvense Studenten'.

LOKO Culture also organises the interfaculty theatre festival in Leuven.

LOKO International

LOKO International is aimed at all foreign students studying in Leuven. LOKO International publishes an English-language magazine called The Voice.

LOKO Sport

Before the reorganization of LOKO from the academic year 2005-2006, it was better known as the Sports Council (see below). Most students are familiar with LOKO Sport because of the organisation of the 24 Urenloop. LOKO Sport also organises the Interfaculty Cup, the Erasmus Cup, the Student Marathon and the final student tournament. The LOKO sports secretariat is located in the De Nayer building in Heverlee.

LOKO Activities

The activity coordinator is responsible for the recreational activities of LOKO. The coordinator is responsible for the organisation and support of activities that are jointly organised by the different circles, such as LOKOmotion, the triennial Beiaardcantus, and tries to shape new activities.

History

LOKO Leuven.png

LOKO was founded on 6 November 1986 by the fusion of the Algemene Studentenraad (ASR) and the Kring Unie Leuven (KrUL). Since 1969 the ASR had been the coordinating organization for a number of councils and student organizations at the KU Leuven. These were the segments of LOKO. Each of these segments had its own subject matter and history. Over the years, they became increasingly integrated, until a real merger took place in 2005.

The integration of the different segments was certainly not easy. Some points of discussion were:

  • the power of a possible coordinating meeting over the councils
  • the influence of the 'exempted' students
  • the extent to which Veto had to represent the opinion of the ASR/LOKO

In 1984 this resulted in a separation from the ASR. The cause of that separation was the anti-missile demonstrations in the mid-1980s. A number of circles - including Ekonomika, Romania, the Koninklijk Vlaams Rechtsgenootschap (VRG) - Leuven and the Vlaamse Technische Kring (VTK) - Leuven - were of the opinion that the ASR should not participate in such political demonstrations and established the Kring Unie Leuven (Krul). The students were thus represented by two competing organisations: the KrUL and the ASR. The KrUL also founded its own student magazine: Faze. In 1986, both associations reunited and LOKO was created, albeit without Ekonomika, which only joined LOKO two years later. At intervals, discussions continued about the powers of the coordinating assembly. This led to the current LOKO in 2005.

At the end of the 1990s, student association ULYSSIS, which deals with computers and the internet, and Radio Scorpio were briefly affiliated to LOKO.

The various segments of LOKO are therefore older than LOKO itself and have their own history.

The various segments of LOKO were: Social Council, Circle Council, Cultural Council, Sports Council, Portulaca, Student magazine Veto and international student magazine The Voice.

Four of these were so-called councils, because their activities were based on a General Assembly of representatives of the various faculty circles. This General Assembly was the highest authority, took the decisions and determined the standpoints. The councils were: Social Council, Circle Council, Cultural Council and Sports Council.

Social Council

The Social Council was founded in 1964 in order to have structural coordination between the students in the governing bodies of the social services. The Social Council was mainly concerned with socio-economic thresholds at the university. Good examples are Alma where you can eat for little money, Acco where courses are printed cheaply and in good quality, Student Facilities where you have a say in housing, target group policy, student grants, job service and Velo where you can hire a bicycle cheaply and have it repaired. The Social Council has had quite a few ups and downs. Whereas in the past the decrees were written, so to speak, at the Social Council, under the new LOKO structure the Social Council has completely merged into LOKO, although the functions have remained the same.

The main principle has always been the democratization of education. A vague term, but over the years it has always been able to evolve. After all, democratization can be viewed from different perspectives. Internally, one takes on the task of informing the circles of the social sector and letting them decide democratically, while externally, in the governing bodies of the university, one tries to make the admission and living conditions for studying as good as possible for everyone.

Cultural Council

The objective of the Cultural Council was, on the one hand, to bring culture closer to the students' lives and, on the other, to promote the general interest of all students in culture. It also formed an opinion about the cultural sector as a whole, which was propagated by LOKO. The Cultural Council now lives on as LOKO Culture.

In 1977, the STUK (Studenten Kunstencentrum) emerged from the Cultural Council. In the course of the 1980s and 1990s, this arts centre pursued an increasingly independent course. Since 1986 it has been a separate non-profit organisation and since 2001 it has been almost completely independent of the Cultural Council. The students of Leuven are still represented in the STUK through LOKO Culture.

Sports Council

The Sports Council sought to enthuse students about sport and get them involved in it. They were also responsible for a number of annual classics such as the 24 Urenloop and the student half-marathon. The Sports Council now lives on as LOKO Sport.

List of Chairmen

Year Chairman
2005 - 2006 Thomas Delaet (Wina)
2006 - 2007 Frederiek Vermeulen (Ekonomika
2007 - 2008 Klaas Keirse (Historia)
2008 - 2009 Arne Smeets (Wina)
2009 - 2010 Jonas Boonen (VTK)
2010 - 2011 Dennis De Roover (Ekonomika)
2011 - 2012 Bram Smits (Politika)
2012 - 2013 Ruben Bruynooghe
2013 - 2014 Rien Hoeyberghs (VTK)
2014 - 2015 Karel Van Den Bossche (Medica)
2015 - 2016 (No Chairman appointed)
2016 - 2017 Bram Van Baelen (VRG)
2017 - 2018 Pieterjan Vaneerdewegh (VTK)
2018 - 2019 Kenny Van Minsel (Historia)
2019 - 2020 Lana Van den Heuvel (Psychologische Kring)
2020 - 2021 Lucie Debaere (Historia) (she resigned at the end of November)
2021 - 2022 Brent Monette (Politika)
2022 - 2023 Bram Schaefer (Wina)

Represented circles and associations

LOKO represents and supports faculty circles and free associations, of which you can find a list below:

Faculty Circles:

Free associations

Free associations are recognised by LOKO and receive an operating subsidy. They do not have a seat in the General Assembly and, apart from the criteria for recognition, are not bound by LOKO. Below is an overview of the free associations.

Former circles (since 1986)

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