School, Russ | Now the celebration begins: – The Russian gets too much negative publicity

– The Russian deserves a proper mark after 13 years of schooling! Celebrate, have fun and create memories for a lifetime. Of course, the celebration must be both safe and inclusive, and it is important that you look after each other, says Mayor Janne Stangeland Rege.

She invited the Russian president at Sola high school to the mayor’s office for a chat.

– I feel that the Russians get too much negative publicity and that some have a tendency to rise up in a “chorus of howls” when something happens.

She points out that Russians are a diverse group of individuals.

– Some allow themselves to refer to the Russians in unkind terms. Then they often forget to be good role models themselves. We adults are also role models in the way we refer to others. Now they have been preparing the Russian celebration for a long time and I have the impression that they are well prepared, says the mayor and adds:

– I want the Russians to walk with a straight back, enjoy themselves and have a wonderful Russian celebration.

Should be a community

Russian president Pia Solsem at Sola upper secondary school is looking forward to Russian time.

– This will be fun. The most important thing is that Russian time is nice, safe and inclusive. Everyone should experience the Russian era as a community. It should be us, and not us and them.

And she emphasizes safety as extremely important.

– I encourage everyone to speak up about things that may be perceived as inappropriate and that all ruses should stand together.

Feels the responsibility

– We have planned the Russian era for a long time, and I feel the responsibility as Russian president. But it is also a responsibility I take on and I am keen to do a proper job, she says.

Solsem points out that it is a shared responsibility to ensure that the celebration is safe and inclusive. She believes that for some it can be challenging to balance the Russian celebration and school work. The Russian president also wants everyone to be aware of how they behave as Russians.

– Rush hour is once in a lifetime, but you shouldn’t feel pressured to do something you don’t want to. Some people make bad choices and don’t think enough about the consequences until afterwards. That’s why it’s smart to think about how you want Russian time to be, so that it becomes something you look back on with pleasure, says Solsem.