Editor's Address

Dear students, the blackest of night is upon us, and I feel like the dark winter months often allow us more space to think. When the editorial team sat down at the beginning of the school year to discuss what we wanted to write about in the coming year, we all agreed on wanting to capture what’s on our minds and writing about the things we’re discussing amongst ourselves, both within the university society and in a broader sense. The topics weighing on our minds these days aren’t always very light-hearted, but they are nevertheless real and prevalent in the times we are currently living.

In this issue our emphasis is on peace, but also its absence. Both are present in Regn Sólmundur Evu’s linocut which adorns the front page, and the concept of peace - and war - has undoubtedly made its mark on this passing year. The absence of peace, in a broad sense, such as Putin’s abominable warfare aimed at his neighbouring country, Ukraine, affects our little island in the North Atlantic because there are refugees and immigrants from Ukraine among us, and they need our support at this point in time. I especially encourage all readers to read about Olga, Yaroslav and Konstantin’s volunteer work (the article is titled Ukrainians in Iceland), where you’ll also find information on how to support their important work and how us students can aid Ukrainians in Iceland as they fight for their very existence.

Inner peace is also present on the pages of this issue, as well as the absence of peace in a more narrow sense - the absence of peace within ourselves now that examinations draw to a close and we’re all exhausted, over-caffeinated and our upper lips are hurting from excessive nicotine pouch use (this goes out to Icelandic students more than international students, I hope you haven’t picked up on this particular Nordic habit). I recommend Hugrún (an organization for mental health education)’s article on inner peace, the sound advice offered by physiotherapy students and students’ earnest words on how they facilitate their own personal peace and combat the stress during these trying winter months.

Whether you celebrate Christmas in a Christian sense, the Winter Solstice in a heathen sense, or simply rejoice in the fact that ahead of us lies a little bit of breathing room, I wish you happy and tranquil times in these last moments of the year 2022, and I sincerely hope you enjoy the read.

—Lísa Margrét Gunnarsdóttir (she/her)

Editor of the Student Paper 2022 – 2023