{"id":130380,"date":"2021-09-16T14:17:39","date_gmt":"2021-09-16T12:17:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=130380"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:52","slug":"rotterdam-associations-reaching-capacity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/09\/16\/rotterdam-associations-reaching-capacity\/","title":{"rendered":"Student societies reaching capacity"},"content":{"rendered":"

The five big student associations have never seen so much enthusiasm among prospective members, resulting in membership caps and lotteries. Induction ceremonies largely went smoothly, apart from several Covid infections at the RSG.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRonald van den Heerik<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The associations are bursting at the seams in terms of popularity, just like student associations in other<\/a> cities. This year, they have all introduced membership caps or lotteries. \u201cIt\u2019s obviously amazing to see so much enthusiasm, but it also means having to disappoint people, which is a shame,\u201d says Friso van der Werf from RSC\/RVSV. He says that the membership cap is partly due to the limited building capacity but is also important for the atmosphere. Now every member can attend drinks evenings if they wish.<\/p>\n

With 397 registrations, the fraternity is the biggest association, followed by Laurentius with around 300 aspiring members. This year, SSR welcomed 240 new members, RSG 150 and NSR . Student rowing association Skadi has not shared exact numbers but is proud that enrolments have doubled compared with other years.<\/p>\n

(Association) size matters<\/h2>

All the associations appear to have reached the limit of their growth. It is simply impossible to accommodate more students in the associations. President of Laurentius, Chiel Stalenhoef, explains that their capacity plan \u2013 drawn up in consultation with the fire service \u2013 stipulates that their building can accommodate a maximum of three hundred new members.<\/p>\n

NSR is the exception to the rule. President Thijs van der Kooij: \u201cDespite having a large building, we aim to enrol eighty new members a year, because we want to keep our meetings small. This is because of the relaxed character required for deep (group) discussions. We obviously have a reasonably steady number of new members every year, because we are the most logical choice for Christian students wanting to join an association.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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