History

The story of DISK begins in the late 1980s when it was decided that the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV) would be located in Kista, at Electrum. After discussions with the Stockholm University Student Union (SUS), it was concluded that a new student association should be formed to provide students with a better foundation for collaboration with the department and to secure stronger support from SUS.

On February 1st, during a constituted general meeting, the Data and Systems Sciences Student Association (D.I.S.K) was established, with Eva Öhlen (formerly Rosenberg) as its first chairperson. In its first year, the association consisted of several sections: the Subject Council (ÄR), the Social Committee, the Sports Section, the Well-being Section, the Cultural Section, and a safety representative. Although the association only had around 100 members in its first year, it still organized plenty of social and academic activities. Over the years, various sections have been both created and deactivated.

Given the significant presence of sections from the Royal Institute of Technology Student Union (THS) in Kista, DISK has maintained exchanges and collaborations with them on various issues over the years. For instance, some events have been jointly organized, and there have been collaborations on employment matters and conferences between the boards.

Throughout the years, many celebrations have taken place, including three major balls organized by DISK, one of which was a 10th-anniversary celebration in the Stockholm City Hall.

DISK’s own career fair, Systemvetardagen, was organized for the first time in 1996, a year after the Business Relations Section was formed. Systemvetardagen has grown over the years and is now a highly regarded career fair, with around 50 companies participating annually.

Previously cherished traditions that are unfortunately no longer observed include DISK’s own magazine, Systemvetarbladet, and Bellmandagen. Systemvetarbladet was a printed magazine published for several years, and Bellmandagen was a day when DISK members gathered in Hagaparken near the Copper Tents for a picnic and sang songs by Bellman and other songwriters.

In 2008, DISK left SUS and became an independent student union, thanks to the dedicated efforts of some highly committed members. SUS initially appealed DISK’s application to become an independent union, but after submitting a well-crafted renewed application, DISK was granted union status.

Over the years, the department has moved several times, having been located in both Electrum and Forum in Kista before moving to Kista NOD in 2014.

Thousands of students have been involved in DISK’s activities, and many hundreds have actively participated in a fantastic community that has forged lifelong friendships and even families. People have grown personally and, as part of a whole, have offered their fellow students a better and happier environment. DISK, in its relatively short history, has undergone incredible development, both as an association and as part of society. The entire IT boom, particularly the development of the internet, has taken the association on an extraordinary journey, and now, with great excitement and confidence in the future, we stand on the threshold of something new.