{"id":154017,"date":"2023-05-01T16:22:48","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T14:22:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=154017"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:46","slug":"all-the-member-societies-at-amsterdam-student-association-crossed-the-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/05\/01\/all-the-member-societies-at-amsterdam-student-association-crossed-the-line\/","title":{"rendered":"All the member societies at Amsterdam student association crossed the line"},"content":{"rendered":"

Violence and inappropriate behaviour have been regular occurrences in the Amsterdamsch Studenten Corps (A.S.C.\/A.V.S.V). All the member societies (disputen<\/em>) crossed the line at one time or another. That is the conclusion the association itself has shared with daily newspaper Trouw<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\twikimedia commons<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cIt is clear that the culture of our association was rotten\u201d, the board of the A.S.C.\/A.V.S.V. writes in a letter to its members. The association offers its apologies in the letter, both to members and to parents.<\/p>\n

The association commissioned a law firm to conduct an investigation and has shared<\/a> the report\u2019s recommendations with Trouw<\/em>. The rest will remain behind closed doors, apparently to protect the privacy of the interviewees.<\/p>\n

Limping<\/h2>

One of the conclusions is that from 2017 to 2021 physical violence took place in all the male hazing rituals. This could result in the victims suffering a limp, bruising or a concussion.<\/p>\n

All the member societies (even the female ones, writes Trouw<\/em>) were involved in activities with sexual overtones, increasing the risk of inappropriate behaviour. For instance, some candidate members had to kiss one another or re-enact a dating show in which they had to rate each other\u2019s appearance. New members were also put at risk through sleep deprivation, bad food and a lack of hygiene.<\/p>\n

The problems are probably not yet a thing of the past. \u201cWe are in the midst of a culture change and it is too early to say that we have wiped the slate clean\u201d, board chair Sebastiaan Klaver tells Trouw<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Disrepute<\/h2>

Last summer, the association came into disrepute<\/a> when a video clip emerged in which one of the board members used foul language about women. The association board chair at that time \u2013 a woman \u2013 resigned.<\/p>\n

Violence is a problem at other associations as well. For example, a member of Minerva got into the news<\/a> last year. The Rotterdamsch Studenten Corps misbehaved<\/a> at a club of the Delftsch Studenten Corps. Vindicat in Groningen got bad press<\/a> for many years too. Incidents of this kind have led to subsidies and grants for board members being withdrawn.<\/p>\n

The boards of such associations say that they are undergoing a change of culture. At least on paper<\/a>, they are now doing everything they can to counter inappropriate behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Read more<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t