Overalls – What are they, and how and when to use them?
At most Swedish universities, there is a tradition of having a section specific overall in varying colours and stripes. This is then used at parties and events when you have pimped it out with your name on the right leg and then you collect patches on the left leg. Patches can be bought and obtained for different reasons, they might be from parties you attend, you can have patches from the area you live in and organizations you involve yourself in. It’s a lot of fun to see everyone else’s overall and feel like you are a part of the student spirit. Some events sometimes have the word “Kravall” in the title, which means overall required; at those events, you really can shine with your pimped-out overall if you choose to get one.
Obtaining section-specific overalls is only possible for an exchange student if you are staying at least one year, and you then contact the section to which you belong and ask to buy one. In other cases, ESN has overalls for exchange students that we sell at cost. The ESN overalls are dark blue and should have yellow stripes put on the legs.These are very popular each semester among the incoming students and generally the cheapest of all sections.
But, before you start putting anything on your overall, there is a big event you will want to attend first, the Overall Inauguration. This is yet another tradition that you don’t want to miss. Before the overall can ever be used, you need to get it really dirty. This is done through an inauguration event where you will perform different activities, such as food and colour wars and crawling through mud, among other things. It’s all built as competitions where you get divided into groups and compete in different activities. This event is usually the one that most students look back on and cherish the most from their time in Linköping.
Student dinners- Sittningar
Student organizations at the university host various dinners throughout the year, known as “Sittningar” in Swedish. These events come in different styles but are generally categorized into Fin-sittning (Formal Sitting) and Ful-sittning (Casual Sitting).
A Fin-sittning is a formal event with a black-tie dress code, commonly held at Kårhuset Kollektivet or similar venues. Guests are served a three-course meal, including an appetizer, entrée, and dessert, along with wine or cider, though non-alcoholic options are always available. Different student sections have their own traditions, such as the Economics and Industrial Management sections, who sing the Swedish Royal Anthem before seating.
In contrast, a Ful-sittning is more relaxed and playful, often featuring costumes and themes like Toga Night or Pirate Party. The dress code depends on the theme, and the location can vary from outdoor spaces to large indoor venues. The meal is typically a single course, and drink options vary, with non-alcoholic choices available.
Regardless of the type, all sittningar are guided by Toastmasters (TMs), who lead the event, keep the pace of the evening, and direct singing traditions. Guests can request songs, but they must follow a theme announced at the beginning of the night. Common themes include phrases like “Tonight, I want to…” or “I want to do this at KK:”.
Sittningar are a significant part of student life, offering a unique mix of tradition, fun, and social bonding. Whether you attend a formal or casual sitting, it’s an experience that brings students together and creates unforgettable memories.
Parties
Some student organizations on campus exist with the only, or main, goal to create amazing parties for the students at the university. These organizations are usually, but not always, tied to a student section, for example, the Teacher’s section or Human Resources section. These parties are commonly hosted on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday and are generally advertised on Facebook and physically at the school.
The parties are commonly hosted at either Kårhuset Kårallen, usually only called Kårallen, or Kårhuset Kollektivet, usually referred to as KK. If you wish to attend these parties, you need to obtain a ticket, and the place and time of sale are usually announced on the event’s Facebook page as well as on Orbi (the app where you buy the tickets). The price for these tickets varies but generally lands around 100 SEK ≈ 10 EUR.
Like the Student dinners, Parties come in different forms: Themed parties, Kravall, or un-themed. The themed parties come in basically any form, from toga to pirate parties and so on.
Safe corps houses
The collective, Kårallen, Ryds Herrgård, Trappan, Örat and Kårhusett are Kårservice’s six clubhouses at Linköping University owned by the three clubs, Consensus, LinTek, and StuFF. Kårservice is responsible for operation and safety in the clubhouses. Corps service works closely with the corps and the students and together we help create the conditions for student life to be as good and safe as possible for everyone. Kårhusen has zero tolerance towards abusive treatment, harassment, sexual harassment, and discrimination.
During all events with us, Kårservice and our staff work to ensure that all visitors have fun and feel good in the kår houses right up until Stad i Ljus.
Should a situation that feels unsafe arise, there is a day manager/serving manager on site who you can contact directly. They have sweaters or shirts that show who they are. You can contact the bars to be referred to the person responsible for the evening. During nightclub operations, there are guards on site for your safety who are happy to help in all situations.
If you do not want or have the opportunity to contact the person in charge directly, you can fill in Kårhusen’s security form. If you want, we will contact you and help you further to get the help and support you need. We are also grateful for your input if something feels unsafe in general, so we can work to make it safer. Kårhusen and Kårna collaborate with Student Health at LiU. If you, as a student, feel that you need someone to talk to, they can be of great help! You can find information about Student Health here.
Rules and Guidelines
At our clubhouses, we strictly follow Swedish alcohol laws, which means that guests must not become excessively intoxicated, bring their own alcohol, or engage in disruptive behavior. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, responsible alcohol service is enforced at all events. Water stations are always available, and guests are encouraged to use them. Read more about the alcohol law here!
Safety is a top priority, and any behavior that endangers others will lead to immediate action. Depending on the severity of the situation, individuals may be asked to leave for the night, issued a yellow card, or, in serious cases, reported to the police. A yellow card means the individual is banned from all clubhouses until they have contacted the Operations Manager and scheduled a meeting for further review.
To maintain high standards for student events, the student unions have established a unified policy for student reception activities. This ensures a welcoming, inclusive, and well-organized environment for all students. You can find it here.