What does NRC think | Student corps must use the persistent misconduct to eradicate it

‘Bangallists’ (Groningen, 2016; Utrecht, 2024), ‘Sperma-Emmers’ (Amsterdam, 2022), ‘Bilnaad-Adjes’ (Leiden, 2018), Candle-grip-on-Jongere Years (Delft, 2022)-The names alone. Cross -border behavior by members of so -called ‘traditional’ student associations seems irreversible. A nauseating pattern that is noticeable, but with some regularity, and that university authorities rightly get angry about. Yet nothing changes at all.

It research story About the Utrechtsch Studenten Corps (USC) last week in NRC Lighten a new low point in a long -standing series. The article offers a sad insight into the limited world of some students. Students who don’t care about the outside world, have no decency standards – let alone humor – and keep each other their heads.

With examples of chronic bullying behavior, excessive drinking and drug use, racism, sex under forced and even rape. The tragic thing is that the described excesses take place more and more outside the view of their own society. After a series of earlier incidents, subsequent boards are seriously worked on much -needed cultural change. Both Utrecht University If the Hogeschool Utrecht recognizes that and has previously imposed sanctions – after the Bangalist affair – Deleted again.

But punishments, also imposed internally against individual members, make no impression on certain groups of corps students. They move their normless macho behavior to their own so -called ‘prominent’ student houses, in some cases financed by rich parents and reunists. White privilege On the Oude Gracht or Maliebaan.

That is bad and harmful to the reputation of the association of which they are so happy to be a member of. It deprives the view of the positive sides of student associations, which in recent years do their best not to be isolated in society. The same USC traditionally organizes a King’s Day party for all residents of Utrecht next Saturday. The same USC is involved this week in a playful theater show that points to the dangers of drinks and substance use.

It is significant that the board of the USC responds so reluctantly to the revelations of NRC. The current rector of the Senate says not to recognize the « strong one -sided image ».

That is a missed opportunity. The USC board-with them the boards of all associations that come in the news in this way-should take the ‘negative publicity’ precisely to make short work of the small groups that misbehave and permanently put the corps in a bad light. Propaging cultural change, with hollow phrases such as ‘core values’ and ‘respectful manners’, is meaningless without Effective behavioral change.

To begin with, the hierarchical structure maintaining itself should be broken. There is also a role for (young) reunists. As long as senior year unbridled the youngest in their house can humiliate – « seniority, » – those freshmen will do exactly the same – or worse – if they get older a year.

There are traditions, abject and in, where traditional student associations can do without.

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