First of all: Congratulations, Edina Ringdal! A very consistent and on target delivery 🙂

Tonight the Student Society of Trondheim (Studentersamfundet, Samfundet) got a nut to crack. Leader Mari Raunsgard had called for applicants to take over as the elected leader for the period of May 2006-2007. After first only having one pre-applicant, three brave souls held their neck out and applied for the position. Two males and one female. Sjur and Magnus, the two male applicants delivered as good as they could, but when the female; Edina, was asked to join the panel as an applicant by former Samfundet-leder Gøril Forbord the whole map changed. Sjur went on to pull his application and left the panel, only to return after being asked again to re-join as an applicant. Sjur stated that he’d much rather vote for Edina than himself. With this, and the answers the panel gave during their questioning it was clear that most of the people present had a good feeling about Edina.

The whole election took about 4 hours, including introduction speeches, questions to the panel from the grand hall and of course the formal voting with ID-checks etc. A total of 238 people voted. 154 voted for Edina.

While biking home, I thought about tonight. I had only one pattern left after ten minutes: Female feminine leaders who master being macho and keeping their feminine touch without being labeled "Iron Lady" like Margaret Thatcher. This was also a topic on TV the 8th of March. The broadcast pulled up Siv Jensen of the rightwinged norwegian political party FRP as a primary example of females who master being macho without loosing the female touch. The story went on to put former PM Gro Harlem Brundtland as the "Mother of all" norwegian female leaders in recent history. Her way of leadership, regardless of political direction have been a source of inspiration for, among others, Siv Jensen.

Tonight it became clear to me that Samfundet in many ways replicate this trend with the election tonight. It’s a trend in Norway with female leaders. It’s something that’s coming. At Samfundet it’s been atleast four female leaders in a row now, when Edina picks up the job on the 17th of May. Edina gave feminine answers. She made the grins and smiles that males look for, but she also put on the gentle side that females admire. Her ideas of how to run Samfundet the next year reminded me of the election of Gøril Forbord. It might not be a coincidence that Gøril asked Edina to apply. I believe we’ll see yet another year with many new members and a society in harmony with the city that surrounds it. I don’t know what we’ll get, but I’ll be exciting to watch and work with new people again.

So, what’s next? Male leaders who crossdress to get female votes? Atleast we know that the playmo®-hair recent politicians have had can’t be good for their image as leaders of the world. Walker, if you read this: Change your hairstyle, please 🙂

Thank you, and good night!